§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will allow share fishermen to sign on for unemployment benefit by postal slips; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BurtPostal signing is offered to all claimants who would find it difficult to attend their local benefit office regularly.
The Employment Service, which administers the scheme on behalf of the Secretary of State for Social Security, has issued guidelines to local offices describing the circumstances in which this facility should be offered. People who live more than six miles from their local benefit office, people with disabilities who would suffer hardship through regular attendance, and people who live in areas where local transport is inadequate, can all be excused from regular attendance. We have no plans to offer postal signing to any specific occupational group.