§ 40. Sir ALFRED BIRDasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the urgent distress existing among uninsured workers who do not come within the scope of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1920; and will the Government reduce the waiting period for relief of these uninsured persons from six to three days, on the same basis provided for in the first paragraph of Schedule II of the aforesaid Act?
The word "uninsured" ["uninsured workers"] should be "insured," and the words "do not" should be omitted.
§ Sir M. BARLOWI had some difficulty in understanding the question as it appeared on the Paper. I will give the hon. Member the answer provided to the question as printed. If the reply is not what he wants, perhaps he will let me know. Uninsured workers will not receive any State payment when unemployed, unless they belong to the classes entitled to out-of-work donation, namely, ex-service men or women, or merchant seamen. These classes will be entitled to out-of-work donation under the further extension recently announced, which will operate to 31st March next. Under this extension, as under all previous extensions, the waiting period is six days, and I cannot hold out any hope that it will be possible to modify it.
Captain COOTEAre the Government giving any consideration to the proposed inclusion of agricultural labourers in this Bill?
§ Sir M. BARLOWThe matter is still under consideration.
§ Mr. W. THORNEWill the ex-soldiers receive 20s. a week onwards up to the end of March?
§ Sir M. BARLOWThey have a limited number of extensions available over the whole period. I think the number is sufficient to cover the period up to 25th March.