§ Mr. Allen McKayasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if it is his policy that workers on short-time working, that is two weeks at work and one week off for which they receive unemployment pay, should not receive supplementary benefit; under what circumstances social security officers are using regulation 9(2)(D) of the Supplementary Benefit (Resources) Regulation 1981 and not regulation 9(2)(A); if he is satisfied that the practice in applying the regulations is consistent between social security offices; and if he will instruct social security officers to cease applying regulation 9(2)(D) in these cases and take steps retrospectively to reimburse those workers who have been deprived of benefit.
§ Mr. NewtonI shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.