§ 89. Mr. ROBERT YOUNGasked the Minister of Labour whether it is within the power of local Employment Exchange officers to fix hours to suit their convenience for the signing of the vacant book by unemployed men; and whether, in any case, any unemployed man must sign before 10 a.m., or lose a day's benefit?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Sir Montague Barlow)In order to reduce the possibility of persons signing the unemployed register while in employment, the hours for signing this register are, under the authority given by the Acts and Regulations, limited to 9 to 12 in the morning (10 to 12 at branch offices) and 2 to 4 in the afternoon (except on Saturdays). At Exchanges with large numbers of applicants each applicant, in his own interest, is required to attend within some specified hour or half-hour. If an applicant fails to attend at the proper time it is open to him to furnish a satisfactory reason for his failure to attend and to produce alternative proof of unemployment.
§ Mr. YOUNGCan the hon. Gentleman expect a man looking for work to turn up at the Employment Exchange before 10 in the morning?
§ Sir M. BARLOWWhen he has signed, ho has the rest of the day to look for work.