25. Mr. T. WILSONasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that, when an ex-service man who is or has been in receipt of treatment allowance is certified by the medical referee as fit for employment, his treatment allowance ceases immediately; that if he has no employment to go to he cannot make application for unemployment benefit for at least seven days after the receipt of the last treatment allowance; and that this means that these men are sometimes without any income for two or even three weeks; and whether he can, by Regulation or otherwise, make arrangements whereby unemployment benefit could be paid them seven days after the stoppage of treatment allowance?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI have prepared a rather long reply in answer to this question. With the hon. Gentleman's permission, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ The following is the reply:
§ A claimant for unemployment benefit must, amongst other things, be capable of and available for work. Accordingly, an ex-service man, who has been in receipt of full treatment allowance on the ground that he was incapable of work would not be in a position to claim benefit during the period covered by the treatment allowance. Treatment allowances are paid in advance up to Tuesdays; unemployment benefit, which is necessarily due only after proof of unemployment has been given, is paid on Fridays, in respect of weeks ending 392 Wednesdays. Accordingly, there is a period of 16 days between the last day on which treatment allowance is actually paid and the first day on which benefit is received. The first seven of these days will be covered by the last payment of treatment allowance paid in advance. I may further point out, that this class of man is almost invariably entitled to a pension, and that payment of pension in advance, which is, of course suspended during full treatment allowance, is, or ought to be, resumed immediately on cessation of treatment allowance.