36. Mrs. WARDasked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been 19 called to the position of those mine-workers in the Cannock Chase coalfields who are employed for four shifts per week and are not qualified to receive unemployment benefit for the two shifts not worked; and whether he will refer this question for consideration to the statutory committee set up under Part I of the Unemployment Act, 1934?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Mr. R. S. Hudson)The position to which my hon. Friend refers arises from the ordinary operation of the continuity rule under the Unemployment Insurance Acts. This has been in operation for many years and the Royal Commission on Unemployment Insurance recommended that no change should be made in it. My right hon. Friend does not think the point is one which should be referred specially to the statutory committee.
Mrs. WARDIs the hon. Gentleman aware of the anomalous position created in certain circumstances by which men who work four shifts are financially worse off that if they were unemployed altogether; and does he not think that that is a matter which needs further consideration?
§ Mr. HUDSONThis matter was gone into thoroughly by two Royal Commissions in the course of the last few years and both recommended that no change should be made.