§ 83. Mr. Wallaceasked the Paymaster General whether he intends to restore pre-paid envelopes for use by unemployed claimants in rural areas.
§ Mr. LangI do not intend to restore pre-paid envelopes for use by unemployed claimants in rural areas to return their fortnightly claim forms. Most unemployed 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 from 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.