§ Mr. Robert Banks.asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total amount of social security benefit paid to striking miners and their families to the nearest appropriate date.
§ Mr. NewtonI assume my hon. Friend has in mind benefit entitlements arising as a consequence of the dispute, rather than those arising in normal circumstances, such as the payment of child benefit.
Unemployment benefit is not payable to anyone involved in a trade dispute. Supplementary benefit is not payable to a striker for his own needs, but is payable in respect of his dependants subject to a deduction of £16 a week (£15 prior to 26 November 1984): the total of supplementary benefit paid for the dependants of striking miners up to the week ending 19 February was about £33 million. Housing benefit has no special rules for trade disputes, and it is therefore not known how much striking miners have received.