§ Mr. Sean HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his Department's practice with regard to asking an unemployed person who serves as a councillor whether he would be prepared to give up his duties as a local councillor in order to establish his availability for work; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PortilloUnemployed people serving as councillors are subject to the same requirement as all other claimants who are required to be available for work in employed earner's employment as a condition for receiving unemployment benefits. They are expected to demonstrate that they are available for work in keeping with their skills but they are not required to give up their council duties in order to satisfy the availability condition. However, days on which they are engaged in approved council duties and which attract an attendance allowance are treated as days worked and the allowance is treated as earnings to be taken into account in determining entitlement to benefit.