§ 15. Mr. HURDasked the Minister of Labour how many of the 22,540 women and girls drawing benefit or on the gap in the Greater London area, upon the latest computation, have themselves Contributed their proper quota under the Unemployment insurance scheme; and when he proposes to relieve the scarcity of domestic servants in good houses, where good wages are offered, by making a rule that in future no benefit should be paid to non-contributors unless exceptional circumstances are shown?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAIt is not possible to indicate how many of the women and girls now drawing benefit have not contributed at all to the Unemployment Fund. Such number, however, must be very small, having regard to the conditions for the receipt of uncovenanted benefit, namely, that the applicant must show that she is normally in insurable employment and genuinely seeking full time employment. As indicated in the reply given to my hon. Friend on the 5th July, applicants who are suitable for, and refuse, domestic service would not be granted Unemployment Benefit. Other special conditions are imposed on the payment of uncovenanted benefit; payment is limited to cases where the title and necessities are proved beyond doubt. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the leaflet which sets out these conditions in detail.