To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many special payments were made to people who were prevented from making a claim during the 1985 miners' strike owing to the test claim procedure and did not follow up with a claim within a year, in the latest available year;(2) how many special payments were made to people who were prevented from making a claim owing to the test claim procedure and did not follow up with a claim within a year, in the latest available year.

Following a decision of the social security commissioners in 1989, a number of claims from canteen workers and cleaners involved in the 1985 miners' strike were reviewed. Extra-statutory payments relating to arrears of benefit were made as follows:

• Unemployment benefit cases = 220 payments
• Supplementary benefit cases = 5 payments

During the last five years, no other special payments of benefit have been made to claimants who were prevented from making a claim owing to the test claim procedure.