HC Deb 18 January 1980 vol 976 cc882-3W
Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many strike centres for the payment of benefits he proposes to set up to deal with the steel strike; and whether he plans to recruit additional staff for the purpose;

(2) if he will take steps to ensure that those normally drawing benefits from his Department will not be subject to unreasonable delays or deterioration in service due to the additional burden placed on his Department during the continuance of the steel strike.

Mr. Prentice

So far 19 strike centres have been set up in areas where the volume of claims is expected to be such as would disrupt the normal work of local offices if handled there. The decision whether to recruit extra staff either to work in the centres or to replace volunteers from local offices is one for local management to take in the light of local circumstances. Some staff have been recruited but details are not held centrally.

Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the arrangements being made for payments to strikers and their families during the steel strike, specifying what assumptions have been made about the amount that unions will contribute from their own resources for the benefit of their members and their families.

Mr. Prentice

Claims to supplementary benefit are being dealt with under the normal rules applying to claims from people involved in a trade dispute. The amount of strike pay which a union authorises is taken into account when it is received, or earlier if there is undue delay in payment.

Mr. McQuarrie

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what legislation is proposed to refuse payments of social security benefits to persons on strike from

NURSING STAFF IN POST AT 31 DECEMBER
Year Broadmoor Rampton Moss Side Park Lane
1976 … … 434 558 271 104
1977 … … 464 570 261 133
1978 … … 441 583 268 133
NURSING STAFF RESIGNATIONS DURING YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER
Year Broadmoor Rampton Moss Side Park Lane
1976 … … 45 47 31 15
1977 … … 40 46 45 11
1978 … … 50 46 31 34