§ 30. Mr. WILLIAM THORNEasked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the action of the Lord Provost of Aberdeen, who is the managing director of J. W. Hendersons, slate and cement merchant, in keeping the State insurance cards of workmen as many as five days after leaving their employment; whether any employer is entitled 1609 to retain insurance cards of persons leaving their employment; and if he intends taking any action in the matter?
Mr. ROBERTSONThe answer to the second part of the question is in the negative. The Scottish Commissioners have made inquiry into this case, and they understand there was some delay in returning the cards of two workmen who left without notice. They understood that the delay, in these cases, arose partly from the circumstances in which the men left their work, and that the employés of the firm named ordinarily receive their cards at once upon applying for them.
§ Mr. W. THORNEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that it has become a common practice for a large number of managers to withhold the men's cards to prevent them signing for unemployment benefit?