Electrician "temp" laid off

Hi,
My friend is an electrician working for his employer for past 3 years. He was told 2 weeks ago he was being "temporarily laid off". His boss calls him now as a jobs come up and only pays him for the hours worked.
There has been no work now for past week and he is stuggling financialy to pay mortgage etc etc.
Would this be a case for redundancy payment? He cannot sign on as employer has not made him redundant or given a P45.
He also cannot claim income protection on his mortgage for same reason.

Any suggestions on what he can do?

Thanks

He can sign on and should do so immediately so that he won't lose out any further. His emplyer should give him a letter stating the postion re 'temp lay off'. If he gets called for jobs he simply signs off for those days by informing SW of what days he works.