§ Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for Employment why Mr. Kelsey of 1 Suffolk Road, Bircotes, near Doncaster, is still being refused unemployment benefit after being dismissed from Harworth colliery last 361W June; when his appeal is expected to be heard; why the clerk to the appeals tribunal is still waiting for papers from the Department of Employment, Doncaster; and what is the average waiting time for appeals of this nature.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkMr. Kelsey resigned from Harworth colliery and was not dismissed. He was disqualified from receiving unemployment benefit by the independent adjudicating authorities because he had, prior to his resignation, lost employment through a stoppage of work due to a trade dispute at his place of employment and that disqualification lasts so long as the stoppage continues. (Social Security Act 1975, section 19.1).
Mr. Kelsey's appeal to the Social Security Appeal Tribunal is in connection with his claim to supplementary allowance, not unemployment benefit, and my officials have been delayed in providing papers in connection with the appeal because they are still awaiting replies to their further enquiries of the National Coal Board.
A date for the hearing has not yet been set. Appeal tribunals deal with a wide range of benefits and information is not available on the average waiting time for appeals of this nature.