§ Mr. Gordon Brownasked the Paymaster General if unemployed persons asked to sign on fortnightly by post have to pay postal charges when returning their forms; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LangMost unemployed people attend the unemployment benefit office in person each fortnight to sign on and claim unemployment benefit bearing any travelling costs involved. People living over six miles from28W their nearest office and some others with special travelling difficulties have the option of claiming by post instead. Since 6 April these "postal claimants" have been asked to pay the postage when returning their fortnightly claim forms. The change was made as a contribution to containing control of public expenditure and a move towards parity of treatment between postal claimants and those bearing regular travelling costs.