§ 17. Brigadier-General COCKERILLasked the Minister of Labour whether the Returns of unemployed persons in receipt of out-of-work donation are analysed with a view to detecting any marked excess in the supply of those skilled in any particular industry, having regard to the probable eventual demand for skilled labour in that industry; and, if so, what, if any, steps are being taken to divert such labour into other channels of employment instead of continuing to pay out-of-work donation?
§ Sir R. HORNEI am afraid it would be impossible to make such an analysis as is suggested, in view of the fact that the probable eventual demand for labour in any given industry could not be even approximately estimated. I may add, however, that the Returns of persons in receipt of out-of-work donation are regularly scrutinised with a view to ensuring that all possible steps are taken to utilise unemployed labour for filling vacancies which are at the time known to exist.
§ 19. Mr. W. R. SMITHasked the Minister of Labour whether he has received any representations from trade unions in favour of the substitution of Clause 8 of the out-of-work donation scheme by a provision that any worker offered employment in another district where wages are lower shall be guaranteed the district rate of his place of residence; and whether he will consider this matter?
§ Sir R. HORNEThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The rule is based upon the corresponding rule in Section 86 (c) of the National Health Insurance Act, 1911; and I do not see my way to altering it.
§ 20. Mr. A. WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Labour whether married women with children are being offered domestic service by the Labour Exchanges without the opportunity of returning to their homes in the evenings; and whether unemployment benefit is being refused to those who decline to take such work?
§ Sir R. HORNEIt is the duty of Employment Exchanges to offer suitable employment wherever possible to all women who claim out-of-work donation. The domestic circumstances of applicants are in all cases taken fully into account before unemployment donation is refused; and, further, all suspensions of donation are referred to a Court of Referees, before whom the applicant is entitled to attend and state his or her case. I am not aware of any particular instances raising the point contained in the hon. Member's question.
§ Mr. JOHN JONESIs he prepared to allow these appeals to be made to the local advisory committees before they are finally sent to the Central Committee?
§ Sir R. HORNENo; I do not think I am prepared to give that assurance. The present system has been devised as being the best possible under the circumstances.
§ Mr. A. WILLIAMSWill the right hon. Gentleman consider the circumstances set out in my question?
§ Sir R. HORNEIn every case it is the duty of the Employment Exchanges to consider such circumstances as the hon. Member mentions, and if they are unsatisfactory to the applicants it is then the duty of the Court of Referees to deal with it.
§ 22. Sir F. BANBURYasked the Minister of Labour if he will state what Act and what Vote authorises the payment of money to unemployed persons until November next?
§ Sir R. HORNEMoneys required for out-of-work donation are provided in the Vote for the Civil Demobilisation and Resettlement Department. Parliament will be asked in due course to confirm this Vote in the Appropriation Act. No other statutory authority is being sought.
§ Sir F. BANBURYAm I to understand from that answer that the money has been spent before either a Vote or an Act has been obtained?
§ Sir R. HORNEI am afraid I am not sufficiently familiar with the forms of this. House to be able to answer that question, but if the hon. Member will put it before me in a subsequent question I shall be glad to answer it.
§ Sir F. BANBURYMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is the habit of the Government not to know when they spend money whether they are authorised to do so or not?
§ Sir R. HORNEI do not think it is the habit of the Government; it is only my own personal ignorance on this question.
§ Lieutenant-Colonel W. GUINNESSMay I ask whether the Law Officers of the Crown have been consulted as to the legality of these payments?
§ Mr. JOHN JONESHave the unemployed been consulted?
§ 26. Lieutenant-Colonel HILDERasked the Minister of Labour if he will give the number of men in England classified as agricultural labourers who received out-of-work donations for the second week in March?
§ Sir R. HORNEThe number of men in England classified as agricultural labourers who received out-of-work donation for the second week in March was 2,352.
§ 28. Lieutenant-Colonel HILDERasked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of agricultural labourers in England in receipt of out-of-work donations who obtained employment through the Employment Exchange during the second week in March?
§ Sir R. HORNEThe number of agricultural labourers (men) in England who obtained employment through the Employment Exchanges during the second week in March was 119.
I should like to add to the three answers which I have just given that the men submitted for employment are very frequently refused, and the fact that a man represents himself as an agricultural labourer is no guarantee that he has sufficient skill to induce the employer to take him on.
§ 29. Lieutenant-Colonel HILDERasked the Minister of Labour if he will give the number of painters and the number of bricklayers of all grades who were in receipt of out-of-work donations during the second week in March?
§ Sir R. HORNEThe number of painters and painters' labourers who were in receipt of out-of-work donation during the second week in March was 9,804. The number of bricklayers and bricklayers' labourers who were in receipt of out-of-work donation during the second week in March was 7,884.
§ Lieutenant-Colonel HILDERIs my right hon. Friend aware of the extreme difficulty in the country of obtaining this kind of labour?
§ Mr. J. JONESIs he aware also of the difficulty of these men in finding employment?
§ Mr. DONALDIs he aware that in Ireland they are coming for their out-of-work donation in motor-cars?