Unemployment-related Benefit (Hansard, 4 April 1990)

§ Mr. Loyden
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list all the grounds for disallowance of unemployment-related benefits and the number of claims disallowed for each such reason in 1989.

§ Mrs. Gillian Shephard
The information in relation to national insurance unemployment benefit is in the tables. Similar information for other unemployment-related benefits is not available.

Decisions of adjudication officers on doubtful claims for unemployment benefit period 1 January 1989 to 31 December 1989

Fresh or renewal claims disallowed Reviewed claims revised adversely to claimant

Capability 2,633 209

Employment not terminated 98 62

Engaged in employment 12,175 7,263

Employed to full normal extent 12,583 239

Normal idle day 1,559 202

Payment in lieu of notice or wages etc. 114,836 22,025

Recognised or customary holiday 4,609 387

Whether unemployed 31,243 5,804

Share fishermen:

Work as 176 26

No work available 123 24

Dependant's benefit:

Child 32 34

Adult 912 597

Delayed claim 94,819 158

Failure to attend for interview 225 25

Failure to kepp to signing time 13 5

Occupational pensioners 131 154

Availability 41,361 4,526

Restricted availability 16,326 4,178

Share fishermen—neglect to avail 197 4

Trade dispute (including R.A.O. decisions) 302 11

Seasonal workers 1,611 27

Leaving voluntarily 201,633 695

Misconduct 65,151 344

Employment:

Neglect to avail 2,923 18

Refusal of 2,780 19

Refusal or premature termination of training 863 18

Refusal to carry out Written recommendations 95 6

Restart 492 66

Other questions 24,552 24,365

All questions 634,453 71,491

685W

§ Mr. Loyden
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the average number of claimants to unemployment-related benefits for each year since 1979; and what was the cost of such benefits in each year.

Estimated numbers of unemployed people receiving unemployment-related benefits 1979–80 to 1988–89

Thousands

1970–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89

Unemployment benefit only 470 785 985 815 405 810 740 795 660 475

Unemployment benefit plus income support/supplementary benefit 80 175 235 275 215 210 215 210 155 125

Income support/supplementary benefit only 486 675 1,085 1,395 1,645 1,745 1,815 1,895 1,775 1,255

Total benefit expenditure on unemployed beneficiaries Outturn 1979–80 to 1988–89

£ millions

1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89

Total benefit expenditure on unemployed beneficiaries 1,470 2,530 4,020 5,010 5,440 6,320 6,940 7,290 6,670 5,390

§ Mr. Loyden
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the number of people referred to adjudication officers by employment service staff because of doubts about their availability for work and restricted availability; and how many were disqualified from receiving benefit on grounds of non-availability for work and restricted availability for the years 1988 and 1989.

§ Mrs. Gillian Shephard
The information requested is in the table:

Availability Restricted Availability

Referrals Disallowances Referrals Disallowances

1988 150,889 78,436 90,463 23,940

1989 83,400 45,887 64,080 20,504

Decisions of adjudication officers on doubtful claims for unemployment benefit period 1 January 1989 to 31 December 1989
	Fresh or renewal claims disallowed	Reviewed claims revised adversely to claimant
Capability	2,633	209
Employment not terminated	98	62
Engaged in employment	12,175	7,263
Employed to full normal extent	12,583	239
Normal idle day	1,559	202
Payment in lieu of notice or wages etc.	114,836	22,025
Recognised or customary holiday	4,609	387
Whether unemployed	31,243	5,804
Share fishermen:
Work as	176	26
No work available	123	24
Dependant's benefit:
Child	32	34
Adult	912	597
Delayed claim	94,819	158
Failure to attend for interview	225	25
Failure to kepp to signing time	13	5
Occupational pensioners	131	154
Availability	41,361	4,526
Restricted availability	16,326	4,178
Share fishermen—neglect to avail	197	4
Trade dispute (including R.A.O. decisions)	302	11
Seasonal workers	1,611	27
Leaving voluntarily	201,633	695
Misconduct	65,151	344
Employment:
Neglect to avail	2,923	18
Refusal of	2,780	19
Refusal or premature termination of training	863	18
Refusal to carry out Written recommendations	95	6
Restart	492	66
Other questions	24,552	24,365
All questions	634,453	71,491

Estimated numbers of unemployed people receiving unemployment-related benefits 1979–80 to 1988–89
Thousands
	1970–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84	1984–85	1985–86	1986–87	1987–88	1988–89
Unemployment benefit only	470	785	985	815	405	810	740	795	660	475
Unemployment benefit plus income support/supplementary benefit	80	175	235	275	215	210	215	210	155	125
Income support/supplementary benefit only	486	675	1,085	1,395	1,645	1,745	1,815	1,895	1,775	1,255

Total benefit expenditure on unemployed beneficiaries Outturn 1979–80 to 1988–89
£ millions
	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84	1984–85	1985–86	1986–87	1987–88	1988–89
Total benefit expenditure on unemployed beneficiaries	1,470	2,530	4,020	5,010	5,440	6,320	6,940	7,290	6,670	5,390

	Availability	Restricted Availability
	Referrals	Disallowances	Referrals	Disallowances
1988	150,889	78,436	90,463	23,940
1989	83,400	45,887	64,080	20,504