Benefit Claimants

HC Deb 08 May 1990 vol 172 cc53-4W

Mr. Frank Field

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what powers unemployment benefit officers have to suspend claimants' unemployment benefit and/or income support once an employment service councellor

Table A
Assisted places scheme: Payment to schools Financial years 1981–82 to 1989–90
School	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84	1984–85	1985–86	1986–87	1987–88	1988–89	1989–90
Christ College, Brecon	7,986.23	21,443.90	36,063.63	48,289.45	62,116.51	95,473.37	131,470.78	155,404.79	189,033.43
Howell's School, Denbigh	11,011.65	37,883.95	70,107.35	96,156.03	132,971.98	179,033.86	225,465.70	243,740.40	237,474.63
Howell's School, Llandaff	17,774.38	57,094.30	106,799.85	144,940.27	209,858.38	274,274.74	314,274.85	319,099.95	334,290.42
Llandovery College	3,737.60	9,217.81	19,615.84	31,013.22	38,279.65	454,407.00	55,732.49	75,308.91	92,650.75
Monmouth School (for Boys)	18,515.90	52,035.40	92,610.93	134,170.47	181,642.40	233,684.75	307,291.19	277,352.49	323,194.26
Monmouth School (for Girls)	9,644,70	21,677.09	37,072.44	52,598.51	68,760.75	90,225.23	109,297.62	114,422.49	128,010.24
Penrhos College, Colwyn Bay	5,108.80	21,973.10	38,489.50	62,843.75	81,089.97	99,399.15	140,459.21	136,944.07	156,617.49
Rydal School, Colwyn Bay	4,194,13	38,206.67	53,896.86	56,864.75	67,768.55	93,274.00	110,254.91	112,767.80	128,121.05
Lowther College1	23,709.08	15,244.92	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
TOTAL	101,742.47	274,777.14	455,156.40	626,876.45	842,488.19	1,519,772.10	1,394,246.75	1,435,040.90	1,589,392.27
1 Lowther College closed in July 1982.

has raised doubts about the claimant (i) being available, (ii) actively seeking work or, (iii) the claimant is suspected of voluntary unemployment, prior to the decision of an adjudication officer.

Mr. Eggar

Employment service officials have the power to make arrangements for payment only where there is no doubt about entitlement. Where doubts arise, they must refer the matter to an independent adjudication officer for a decision on whether unemployment benefit should be paid. Pending the adjudication officer's decision, it would be wrong to pay benefit if entitlement is in doubt. The only exception concerns cases where doubts arise about the availability for work of claimants already being paid unemployment benefit; regulations provide specifically for payment to continue under those circumstances. Entitlement to income support is a matter for the Department of Social Security.