397
Written Answers
18 NOVEMBER 1977
EMPLOYMENT
Unemployment Benefit
Mr. Corbett asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will list in the Official Report the conditions of entitlement in 1973 and 1977, respec- tively, to unemployment benefit and associated cash for males and females.
Written Answers
398
lower rate is being abolished in April 1978-and they can receive an increase of benefit for a husband only if he is incapable of self-support. :
:
I have no information about other cash benefits associated with unemployment, apart from supplementary benefit about which I understand my hon. Friend is not concerned.
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Mr. Deakins: I have been asked to TN, TA MARRIAG reply.
1
The contribution conditions for unem- ployment benefit, and other national in- surance benefits, changed between 1973 and 1977. In 1973, under the then flat- rate contribution system, the first con- tribution condition for unemployment benefit required the payment of 26 weekly Class 1 (employed earner) contributions since entry into insurance and the second contribution condition required 50 Class 1 contributions to have been paid or credited in the contribution year preced- ing the benefit year in which the claim was made for the full rate of benefit to be payable. (A benefit year started five months after the end of a contribution year.) Following the introduction of a wholly earnings-related contribution sys- tem under the Social Security Act 1975,
the first contribution condition for unem- ployment benefit now requires the pay- ment of Class 1 contributions amounting to at least 25 times the amount of the contribution payable on the weekly lower earnings limit for the tax year concerned. This limit is £15 for the 1977-78 tax year. The second condition is met in full if, in the relevant tax year, that is, the tax year immediately preceding the calendar year in which the period of interruption of employment began, Class 1 contributions have been paid or credited on earnings of at least 50 times the weekly lower earn- ings limit for that year.
The other main conditions for the receipt of unemployment benefit, namely, that the claimant must be unemployed and capable of, and available for, work, have not changed between 1973 and 1977.
In general, the contribution and other conditions apply equally to males and females. However, married women en- titled to unemployment benefit on their Own contribution records generally qualify for a lower rate of benefit than do men, single women and widows-this
4 C 28
FOREIGN AND MAY COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
armor Ah, Drug Traffic
Mr. Parry asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what liaison exists between Her Majesty's Government, the Hong Kong Govern- ment and Interpol regarding persons in Taiwan wanted for questioning for serious drug offences; and if he is satis- fied with the success of any arrangements.
Mr. Luard: Taiwan and the United
Kingdom are both members of Interpol. Relevant information about drug offen- ces and offenders is supplied by the Gov- ernment of Hong Kong to Interpol, which distributes it to Taiwan and the right hon. Friend is satisfied with these United Kingdom at its discretion. My
arrangements.
Mr. Parry asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many persons now resident in Canada are wanted for questioning by the Hong Kong Government in connec- tion with serious drug offences.
Mr. Luard: None.
>
Mr. Parry asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many persons now resident in Tai- wan are wanted for questioning by the Hong Kong Government in connection with serious drug offences.
Mr. Luard: Two.
Hong Kong
Mr. Parry asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list in the Official Report the number of persons wanted for questioning by the Independent Commission Against Corruption in Hong Kong in countries
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