Mr. TERRELL (by Private Notice)asked the Minister of Labour whether ex-soldiers and ex-sailors who are out of work in consequence of the moulders' strike will be paid unemployment pay?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Mr. Wardle)The rule applicable in this connection is that laid down by Parliament in the Unemployment Insurance Acts, and is the same for ex-members of His Majesty's Forces as for others. A notice setting out the effect of this rule in relation to the moulders' strike was published recently in the Press; briefly it amounts to this, that the moulders' strike causes the disqualification for donation of all the workpeople employed in the foundry, but not of workpeople employed elsewhere in the engineering establishment concerned. The interpretation of the rule in individual cases does not rest with the Department, but with the Courts of Referees and the Umpire, whose decision is final.
Mr. TERRELLIs the hon. Gentleman aware that there are cases of very great hardship amongst ex-soldiers and ex-sailors who have only recently joined unions, and who can get no relief from the union, and can he see his way to meet their cases by giving them unemployment pay?
§ Mr. WARDLEAs I have already pointed out, it does not rest with me. I should imagine that the numbers must be very few.
Mr. TERRELLIs the hon. Gentleman aware that, though the number may be few, there are cases of very great hardship and injustice?
§ Mr. WARDLEI am not quite sure how the rule to which I have referred can be altered, but I will make inquiries.