§ Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons in Barnsley and district have been denied their unemployment benefits following redundancy notices from the National Coal Board which were served before the miners' strike began; for what reasons benefits are being withheld; when total backpayments will be paid; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Alan Clark19 claimants in Barnsley and district have been disqualified from receiving benefit in these circumstances and a further 33 have had their benefit suspended until decisions are taken by the independent adjudicating authorities.
Section 19 of the Social Security Act 1975 covers entitlement to unemployment benefit during a trade dispute and provides that a person who is made redundant but who stops work because of a trade dispute during the notice period is liable to be disqualified from receiving unemployment benefit. The disqualification lasts as long as the stoppage of work continues even if this is some time after the redundancy takes effect.
Back-payment can be made only if the original disqualification is reversed on appeal.