§ 28. Mr. W. THORNEasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the dissatisfaction of the various bank clerks on account of their being compelled to pay contributions for the State Unemployment Insurance Act; and that, in consequence of there being such a small percentage of bank clerks being dismissed and out of work, he can see his way clear to exempt bank clerks from paying contributions under the Act?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAAs has already been stated, I have no power to exclude bank employés from the Unemployment Insurance Act unless they are entitled to rights in a superannuation fund established by, or in pursuance of an Act of Parliament, and unless, in addition, the employéd person is not subject to dismissal except for misconduct, neglect, or unfitness, and generally if conditions of employment make it unnecessary that he should be insured. In any case, bank clerks earning over £250 a year do not come within the Act.
35. Mr. T. THOMSONasked the Minister of Labour whether he has received a deputation from the National Alliance of Employérs and Employéd which proposed that unemployment benefit should be paid as from 8th November, irrespective of any question of contribution; and what is the decision to which he has come on the question?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI received this deputation yesterday, and a full report of the proceedings has been issued. As regards the suggestion that unemployment benefit should be paid irrespective of contributions, I am afraid I have no power to modify the provisions of the Unemployment Insurance Act in this respect.
§ Mr. W. THORNE(by Private Notice) asked' the Minister of Labour whether he can state the number of persons covered by the Unemployment Insurance Act who are at present out of employment and will, therefore, not be entitled to receive unemployment benefit this week; and whether, in view of the many persons so placed, he will consider the advisability of taking some steps to enable them to qualify for benefit?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAIt is not possible to give the number of persons who are unemployéd and who are not qualified to receive benefit under the Unemployment Insurance Act. Benefit may be drawn for eight weeks as soon as four contributions have been paid, and under this provision large numbers of the persons now unemployéd are entitled to benefit under the Act. As regards entitling persons to benefit irrespective of payment of contributions, I am afraid I can add nothing to the reply given to-day to the hon. Member for Middlesbrough West.
§ Mr. THORNEHave the Government considered the advisability of making some provision for these unfortunate fellows who are getting no payment?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe difficulty of qualifying by the four weeks payments has been before me, but it cannot be done under the Act. As a rule, the qualifying period is 26 weeks and not four. A person on short time is qualified to stamp, even though it be no more than one day bonâ fide employment during the week.
§ Mr. THORNEDo I understand that where the men are working short time, if the employérs are not in the position to put on the stamp for the employér's contribution, can the employé' put on his own stamp?
§ Dr. MACNAMARABoth are parties to stamping the card. I imagine his employér would stamp it under those circumstances. If a man is at work one day a week bonâ fide employéd, that is employéd service under the Act, the card should be stamped.
§ Mr. HAYDAYUnder the circumstances of the period of the operation of the Act, and the many thousands who have no employment, but two stamps and not four, three stamps and not' four, could not some concession be granted as would enable the fourth stamp to be placed on, in order to entitle that unemployéd person to benefit?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI am sorry that that would not be possible under the Act. It would be using the premiums of the Insurance Act as an out-of-work donation. I have handed the matter on to the Cabinet Committee on Unemployment, and asked them to consider it. I realise that it is a real difficulty, but I can give no assurance and I have no authority.
§ Mr. HAYDAYHas the right hon. Gentleman made such representations to the Cabinet Committee as would permit of representations being made to that body by persons in authority and in direct touch with the circumstances?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI assure my hon. Friend that the Cabinet Committee have the whole of the facts before them.