§ Mr. Maudeasked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will take steps to ensure that mineworkers who have been disqualified from receiving unemployment benefit after taking voluntary redundancy under the redundant mineworkers payments scheme during the recent dispute suffer no financial loss as a result of accepting in good faith the National Coal Board's offer of redundancy.
§ Mr. David HuntAll claims for national insurance benefits are decided by independent adjudicating authorities specially appointed under the Social Security Act. I am continuing to monitor the position of mineworkers who have accepted redundancy but who have been disqualified from receiving unemployment benefit because of the dispute.