asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any plans to amend the rule relating to those employed on seasonal work who are currently barred from drawing unemployment benefit after three consecutive years; and if he will make a statement.
A seasonal worker may receive unemployment benefit during his off-season if he can show that he has had, or can reasonably expect to obtain, a substantial amount of employment during that off-season. This conditiion is designed to ensure that unemployment benefit is not paid to those seasonal workers who are not in the employment field during their off-seasons. As there is no practical way of distinguishing between the voluntary and involuntary seasonal worker, we have no plans to amend these rules.