§ 37. Mr. Barronasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the system of payments to indentured apprentices of benefits during the current coal mining dispute.
§ Dr. BoysonIndentured apprentices are treated in the same way as miners, so that if there is a stoppage of work due to a trade dispute at their place of employment and they are held to be participating in or directly interested in the dispute, they are disqualified for receiving unemployment and supplementary benefit. They can, however, be paid supplementary benefit for any dependants' requirements. Claims for benefit are decided by independent adjudicating authorities. Anyone who is dissatisfied with the decision on his claim has the usual right of appeal to the Social Security Appeal Tribunal and to the Social Security Commissioner.