Ulster Unionist Party MLA Robin Swann has described the non-answer of an Assembly question he placed on using unemployed people to deliver political leaflets as ‘highly suspicious’.
Robin Swann MLA said:
“Information has come to my attention that people on Job Seekers Allowance have been given short term ‘work’ to deliver party political literature as part of a programme to re integrate them back into the job market.
“On 1 May I placed the following written priority question to Mr Farry, the Minister for Employment and Learning from the Alliance Party:
‘To detail any (i) scheme or program supported or delivered by his Department which would allow a political party to employ individuals on Job Seekers Allowance to canvas for them during elections; and (ii) political party utilising these schemes or programs.’
“This question should have been answered by 4 May, but as of now, there has been no answer. I find this highly suspicious.
“I am all for helping the unemployed step back into the labour market and I support schemes which encourage this. However, the Department of Employment and Learning should not in any circumstance put job seekers in a position of having to deliver party political literature, or risk losing their benefit. That would be a blatant misuse of a Government funded scheme, and I am sure an unpleasant situation for some individuals who are genuinely looking for work but could end up being delivery agents for a political party at election time.
“I trust the Alliance Minister has nothing to hide.”