HC Deb 10 December 1980 vol 995 cc358-9W
Mr. Foulkes

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give figures for the number of people receiving guarantee payments in each quarter since the Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act was passed in 1978.

Mr. Mayhew

I regret that this information is not available, as there is no statutory requirement for an employer to notify lay-offs to my Department.

Mr. Foulkes

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will consider amending the Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978 to expressly require that the first five days on which an employee on short time is entitled should attract guarantee payments.

Mr. Mayhew

No. The Act in its present form confers on employees a clear entitlement to guarantee pay and there is no justification for amending it.

Mr. Foulkes

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many cases of employers staggering or attempting to stagger guarantee payments have been brought to the attention of the Department of Employment or industrial tribunals since the Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978 was passed.

Mr. Jim Lester

Only one case has come to the attention of my Department and, as far as I am aware, no cases have been considered by an industrial tribunial.

Mr. Foulkes

asked the Secretary of State for Employment under what statutory provisions firms putting workers on short time are required to give due notice to the unemployment benefit office of the days they intend to cover by guarantee payments.

Mr. Mayhew

There is no statutory provision requiring employers to give UBOs this information.

Mr. Foulkes

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if the practice adopted by unemployment benefit offices in issuing Girocheques to those on short time is automatically to assume that guarantee payments cover the first five days unless they are advised otherwise.

Mr. Mayhew

No. In general UBOs are already aware of whether workers on short time are affected by guarantee payments. Where this is not the case, UBOs will find out whether guarantee payment is relevant before any payment of benefit is made. However, a final decision to disallow unemployment benefit can only be taken by the independent insurance officer.