§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people(a) within South Shields and (b) nationally had their unemployment benefit stopped because they were considered to be not available for work in the period from January to September.
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§ Mr. Lee[holding answer 22 December 1988]: Information is not available in the precise form requested. However, for the period 1 January 1988 to 30 June 1988, 2,424 cases were considered in the adjudication office area which includes the town of South Shields, because of doubts about availability. From 3 March 1988 not all cases of doubt led to benefit being withheld pending a decision. Between 1 July 1988 and 30 September 1988, 2,164 cases were considered.
It is not possible to provide national figures up to September. However, for the period 1 January 1988 to 30 June 1988, the total number of cases considered due to doubts about availability was 123,606.