§ Dr. Godmanasked the Paymaster General (1) what is the total number of persons being seen on an average day by benefit officers conducting availability testing interviews in (a) Greenock and Port Glasgow, (b) Strathclyde region and (c) Scotland as a whole;
(2) what is the total number of persons whose benefit has been terminated or suspended as a result of interviews conducted on the availability test in (a) Greenock and Port Glasgow, (b) Strathclyde region and (c) Scotland as a whole;
(3) if he will make it his policy to advise claimants interviewed on the availability test in Scotland to seek independent advice before completion of the questionnaire.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeAs the revised procedures for testing availability for work are being introduced progressively between October 1986 and January 1987, it is not possible to provide this information at present. It has never been our normal practice to suggest to claimants that they seek independent advice about their entitlement to benefit and we have no plans to change this policy. In individual cases staff do, where appropriate, draw attention to the help that certain bodies can provide.
§ Dr. Godmanasked the Paymaster General what is the total number of persons in (a) Glasgow and Port Greenock, (b) Strathclyde region and (c) Scotland as a whole who have had their benefit suspended for failure to attend restart interviews at the latest available date.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeNo one can lose his benefit entitlements solely as a result of the restart programme. Under long-standing legal rules people can lose their entitlement to benefit if they fail to attend an interview, are not available for work, or refuse an offer of suitable employment.
As at 9 October 1986 the number of people who had benefit disallowed as a result of failure to attend restart interviews was:
276W
Number Greenock and Port Glasgow 6 Strathclyde region 228 Scotland 393