asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in how many cases during 1974 unemployment benefit was suspended or disallowed on grounds of industrial misconduct; how many appeals resulted; and how many were successful.

In 1974 there were 144,746 cases in which the claimant was disqualified for the receipt of unemployment benefit on the ground of industrial misconduct. I regret that figures relating to the number of appeals which resulted could not be obtained without undue expenditure of time and effort.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will consider abolishing penalties and deductions from social security benefits on grounds of industrial misconduct, and hold talks with the TUC on this matter.

No. Measures to protect public funds from unjustified claims for benefit are essential, and I have no plans to abolish them.