§ Mr. Lawrenceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will end the rule that someone obliged to take compulsory holiday without holiday pay is deemed to be in full-time work and therefore is excluded from social security benefit.
§ Dr. BoysonNo. People engaged in full-time work are normally excluded from entitlement to unemployment benefit and supplementary benefit. This exclusion extends to periods of recognised or customary holiday; payment during those periods is a matter for the employer. An employee will normally know whether or not he can expect holiday pay, and will be able to budget accordingly. If, however, he receives no earnings or reduced earnings during a compulsory holiday and does not have enough money to last until his next pay day, he may be entitled to a recoverable supplementary benefit urgent need payment. We have no plans to change these arrangements.