HC Deb 27 January 1994 vol 236 cc359-60W
Mr. Cryer

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what instructions are provided to unemployment benefit offices on the rules regarding reduction of unemployment benefit for dismissal for misbehaviour and the number of weeks that any reduction should be imposed.

the number of households where either the head, or the cohabiting partner of the head, is claiming unemployment related benefits are given in the following table, for each spring since 1983. Prior to this, the monthly administrative unemployment figures were based upon a registrant count rather than a claimant count. As a result no complete information about those claiming unemployment-related benefits is available from the labour force survey before 1983.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service under its chief executive I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Bob Cryer, dated 27 January 1994. The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question regarding the reduction of unemployment benefit for dismissal for misbehaviour. The Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 Section 28 (1) (a) contains provisions for disqualification from receiving unemployment benefit if employment is lost through misconduct. Copies of the legislation are held in all Employment Service Offices responsible for paying unemployment benefit, and adjudication offices. When a client has been dismissed from their employment, payment of benefit is suspended whilst enquiries are made of the employer. The Benefits Agency (BA) is informed and if Income Support is claimed it may be payable at a reduced rate. It is for BA to decide the percentage of any reduction in accordance with Income Support Regulations 1987.10, and Income Support (General) Regulations 1987.22. Copies of these Regulations are held in Benefits Agency Offices. If the reply from the employer indicates that employment was lost through the employee's misconduct the claim is referred to an adjudication officer, as it is a matter for the independent adjudication authorities to decide the length of any disqualification arising from misconduct. The current maximum period of disqualification is 26 weeks. I hope this is helpful.