HC Deb 02 February 1988 vol 126 cc578-9W
Mr. Nicholas Brown

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if, pursuant to the reply given on 26 November 1987,Official Report, columns 263–64, he will indicate the number of cases of disqualification that were taken to an appeal tribunal, showing how many resulted in the disqualification being overruled, distinguishing as far as possible between the different heads of section 20(1) of the Social Security Act 1975; and if he will also provide information for each year since 1976 showing the number of such appeals and the outcome of the appeal.

Mr. Scott

The information requested is not readily available prior to April 1984, the date of the establishment of the independent office of the president of social security appeal tribunals, and could be extracted only at disproportionate cost. The available information is shown in the table.

Social Security Appeals Tribunals:
Appeals on section 20(1) of the Social Security Act 1975 on disqualifications for unemployment benefit:
Great Britain: 1984 to 1987
1984 (April to December) 1985
Number of Number of
(a) (b) (a) (b)
Category of disqualification1 Appeals heard and decided Decisions in the claimant's favour Appeals heard and decided Decisions in the claimant's favour
Section 20(1)a 4,283 1,209 6,378 2,160
Section 20(1)b 40 13 49 22
Section 20(1)c 10 1 33 9
Section 20(1)d 1 1 — —
Section 20(1)e 56 15 86 16
TOTAL 4,390 1,239 6,546 2,207

1986 1987 (January to March)
Number of Number of
(a) (b) (a) (b)
Category of disqualification1 Appeals heard and decided Decisions in the claimant's favour Appeals heard and decided Decisions in the claimant's favour
Section 20(1)a 6,282 2,509 1,473 685
Section 20(1)b 43 13 15 8
Section 20(1)c 33 8 6 4
Section 20(1)d 3 2 — —
Section 20(1)e 67 16 17 7
TOTAL 6,428 2,548 1,511 704
1 The categories of disqualification are:

20(1)a—misconduct or leaving voluntarily.

20(1)b—refusal of employment.

20(1)c—neglect to be made available for an opportunity of suitable employment.

20(1)d—refusal to carry out an official recommendation.

20(1)e—refusal or premature termination of training.

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