23. Colonel BURNasked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider the advisability of extending the unemployment donation to demobilised sailors and soldiers who, owing to having already received twenty-six weeks' donation, do not come under the recent extension, and thus help deserving cases to get through the winter months?
Sir R. HORNThe hon. and gallant Member is apparently under a misapprehension. Under the scheme before its recent extension, ex-Service men were entitled to thirty-nine weeks unemployment donation, and, if disabled, forty-six weeks. In addition, anyone who has exhausted this provision, may during this winter obtain donation for a further period of nine weeks.
24. Colonel BURNasked the Minister of Labour if the right of appeal to some other authority will be given to a man whose unemployment pay has been stopped owing to the decision of the local employment committee, or the right to have his case reopened on the production of fresh evidence?
§ Sir R. HORNENo, Sir; I share the view expressed by Lord Aberconway's Committee on the Out-of-Work Donation Scheme, that the balance of advantage is against allowing an appeal to another tribunal in such cases. If, however, fresh evidence is produced which appears to justify the reopening of a case, the Department is always ready to ask the committee to give a further hearing.
30. Major GREAMEasked the Minister of Labour whether women in the Land Army are entitled to receive out-of-work donation after demobilisation upon the same terms as women enrolled in the other women's corps?
§ Sir R. HORNEThe only members of Women's Service Corps who received special treatment as regards out-of-work donation were the mobile members of these corps who enrolled for the duration of the War under one of the fighting departments, and were accordingly treated as ex-members of His Majesty's Forces. The women in the Land Army do not fall within this category, and are not now entitled to donation if unemployed.
31. Major GREAMEasked the Minister of Labour whether immobile women in the Women's Corps are deprived of the unemployment donation benefits accorded to mobile women in those corps; if so, whether special consideration will be given to women who were unable to enrol as mobile members by reason of the fact that they had to support children, parents, or invalid husbands?
§ Sir R. HORNEIt was decided at the outset of the out-of-work donation scheme that immobile members of the Women's Corps could not be treated on the same footing as ex-members of His Majesty's Forces. The rights of these immobile members to donation accordingly came to an end with the cessation of civilian donation at the end of November last. With regard to the second part of the question, I am afraid that it would be impracticable to differentiate between individuals by reference to the reasons which prevented them from enrolling as mobile members.
Major GREAMEDoes not the right hon. Gentleman consider that a woman who has dependants, and who by reason of her dependants could not become mobile, is a more deserving case than a single woman who has no dependants to support?
§ Sir R. HORNEThat might very well he in individual cases, but I could not make a general rule.
Major GREAMEWould it not be possible for the local advisory committees to investigate special cases as has been done under previous arrangements?
§ Sir R. HORNENo; I am afraid it is quite impossible to do that.