§ 10. Mr. WIGNALLasked the. Minister of Labour whether he is aware that on 12th June the Trowbridge and district local employment committee, composed of representatives of employers and work-people, passed a resolution viewing with alarm the regulations laid down in C.I.A. 505C and the five weeks' gap in the payment of unemployment benefit; that the committee also decided to circulate the resolution and to invite the local Members of Parliament to attend a conference with the committee to consider the questions involved; that the divisional controller instructed the committee's secretary to take no action; that at the next committee meeting a resolution was carried requesting the divisional controller to attend a special meeting to discuss the matter; and that this request has been ignored; and whether, in view of the importance of securing smooth administration, he will instruct the divisional controller to pay more regard to the views of those who are charged with the lute of advising the local representatives of the department?
§ The MINISTER of LABOUR (Dr. Macnamara)My hon. Friend will be aware that what is apparently the main point of the committee's resolution has been met by the reduction of the gaps from five weeks to one. The divisional controller no doubt felt that this fact obviated the needs for further action. However, I am asking him to attend the next meeting of the committee in order to afford the necessary explanation of the position.