§ 41. Mr. CHARLES DUNCANasked whether a man employed for two days a week in an insured trade and also in receipt of an old age pension would, in the event of his becoming unemployed, forfeit his right to unemployed benefit if he refused an offer of full-time employment which would result in the loss of his pension?
PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Robertson)The decision as to whether a workman is entitled to unemployment benefit under Part II. of the National Insurance Act rests ultimately with the Umpire appointed thereunder. I am therefore unable to give any authoritative reply to the point raised in the question, but in a recent decision given by the Umpire on a question which though not identical, has some analogy with that raised by my hon. Friend, benefit was disallowed in respect of a workman who gave up his employment, at which he could earn 18s. 5½d. per week, because he ascertained that he would not be allowed to retain a Statutory old age pension of 5s. per week while he was earning more than 12s. per week.