§ Mr. Cousinsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many claimants on a quarterly basis successfully claimed under regulation 6 of the Condition of Entitlement Regulations in the 12 months 1 October 1984 to 30 September 1985, I October 1985 to 30 September 1986 and 1 October 1986 to 30 September 1987; and if he will give the figures on a similar basis for each unemployment benefit office in Newcastle.
§ Mr. PortilloRegulation 6 lists all the categories of persons whose entitlement to supplementary benefit is not subject to the condition of being available for employment. Generally the fact that a claimant falls within one of' these is recognised by an officer dealing with the case, usually in the Department but sometimes in the Department of Employment (for example at a restart interview); but the claimant or someone on his behalf may of course raise the question himself.
I regret that no information is available about the number of people required to be available who have been signing on quarterly and have subsequently come within the terms of regulation 6. Such information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.