§ Ms. PrimaroloTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the number of claimants whose unemployment benefit is suspended pending inquiry in the Bristol area.
§ Mr. LeeThere are no records maintaned to show the number of suspensions of unemployment benefit.
However, statistics for the third quarter of 1987 show that in the Bristol sector adjudication office area 6,081 cases on which a question of doubt arose were decided by an adjudication officer.
§ Ms. PrimaroloTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will institute an inquiry into the series of decisions made by the unemployment benefit office in Bristol which led to Ms. Rachel Caine's entitlement to unemployment benefit being suspended; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LeeFollowing the very sad death of Ms. Caine, I have asked my officials to examine the circumstances of her recent claim to unemployment benefit and to report their conclusions to me.