HC Deb 12 June 1912 vol 39 cc864-5
57. Mr. TYSON WILSON

asked the President of the Board of Trade if the Labour Exchange and other officials are-insisting upon all applicants for unemployment books signing the application form in the presence of an official and delivering the same to him either at a Labour Exchange or some other appointed place; whether the workmen in a number of trades are refusing to fill the forms up under those conditions; and whether he will alter this system and allow the members of societies who propose to make arrangements under Clause 105 of the Act to forward their applications through their respective branch secretaries?

Mr. ROBERTSON

Arrangements have been made for the distribution of application forms for unemployment books to workmen at their place of work, through the officers of trade unions, at clubs and institutes, and at other convenient places. It is also being arranged that a Labour Exchange official should attend at such of those places as may be convenient to receive from the workmen the application forms for unemployment books when filled in. It is desirable that these forms should be handed personally to an officer of the Board of Trade in order to secure that mistakes or omissions shall be rectified at once and subsequent inconvenience to the workmen thus avoided.

58. Mr. LARDNER

asked how many offices have been established in Ireland for the administration locally of the Labour Exchanges Act; and what salaries are paid to Post Office officials who are engaged in the administration of this Act?

Mr. ROBERTSON

A divisional office and twenty Labour Exchanges have been established in Ireland in connection with the administration of the Labour Exchanges Act; four more are about to be opened. The experimental use of one or two Post Offices has been sanctioned by the Postmaster-General for the purpose of stocking application forms for applicants desirous of having their names registered for employment at the nearest Labour Exchange, to which these forms are sent by post. Any question as to remuneration to be paid to salaried officers of the Post Office is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General.