§ 19. Mr. PETOasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the provisions of Section 87 of the National Insurance Act are being evaded, and that workmen belonging to the building trade in London are in receipt of unemployment benefit although they have lost their employment by reason of a trade dispute at the premises where they were employed; whether he can state the amount of unemployment benefit paid to workmen in the London building trade for the week before the commencement of the dispute and for the last recorded complete week; and what steps he proposes to take to stop the funds accumulated under Part II. of the National Insurance Act being paid away contrary to its provisions?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD Of TRADE (Mr. Burns)I am not aware that the provisions of Section 87 of the National Insurance Act are being evaded, or that funds accumulated under that Act are being paid away improperly, in connection 809 with the London building trade dispute. If the hon. Member will bring any specific cases to my notice I will inquire into them. The precise information asked for by the hen. Member could not be given without very laborious research, but I will see what information can be furnished and will communicate with him in due course.
§ Mr. PETOWill the right hon. Gentleman take some steps to see that persons before they receive unemployment benefit have been bonâ-fide employed elsewhere in insured trades?
§ Mr. BURNSYes, the officers responsible for the distribution of unemployment benefit locally see to that.