76. Mr. TYSON WILSONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is a practice at Labour Exchanges, when unemployment books are being stamped, to mark over the stamp the number of days in the week the man has been employed; if so, whether he is aware that such a practice is prejudicial to a man seeking employment; and whether the advisability of stopping the practice will be considered?
Mr. BUXTONI assume my hon. Friend to refer to the overprinted stamps affixed by the Labour Exchanges in cases where an arrangement has been made with an employer, under Section 99 of the National Insurance Act, to stamp the workmen's books. As my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade stated, in answer to the hon. Member for Sunderland on 14th October, the use of these stamps is designed to facilitate payment of the refund to which a workman may become entitled under this Section. As at present advised, I see no practicable method of altering the existing arrangements, but if my hon. Friend will supply me with details of any cases in which the practice is thought to have entailed hardship to a workman I shall be glad to consider the matter further.