§ 78. Mr. ANDERSONasked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to the decision of the chairman of the Salford Court of Referees, Mr. Aitken, in the appeal of Miss Lilian Fox and Miss Margaret Hill, employed by Messrs. Harden and Company, Thornley Street, Hyde, that unemployed benefit was payable in respect of time lost during the recent; engineering strike, on the ground that it was a dispute between the workers and the Government and not a dispute between the workers and the employers; and whether, in view of this decision, he will direct the unions who have made arrangements under Section 105 of the Insurance Act, Part II., will receive a refund in respect of benefit paid to workers thrown out of employment as a consequence of the dispute in question?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThese cases have been referred to the Umpire for an authoritative decision, and the matter is therefore still sub judice. Should the Umpire uphold the decision of the Court of Referees, repayments in respect of any other cases coming within the terms of his decision will be made to associations having arrangements under Section 105 of the National Insurance Act, 1911, provided that the members concerned made claims to benefit in accordance with the ordinary procedure and provided that evidence of unemployment is forthcoming.