§ 32. Mr. T. GRIFFITHSasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that, owing to the long holidays now in vogue on account of slackness of work, workmen covered by the Unemployment Insurance Act are being penalised with regard to payment of benefit; whether arrangements have been made that in estimating the holidays for which a man shall not be paid benefit the average holidays during the previous three years is taken as the criterion; whether he is aware that on this method, where it is shown that the average holidays amount to five days and during this year they actually amount to nine days, the man 2171 cannot receive benefit for the balance of four days on account of the waiting period of a week; whether he has received a resolution from the Sheffield Local Employment Committee and from any other committees to the effect that benefit should be paid for all unemployed days other than statutory holidays; and whether, in order to secure fair play all round, he will consider the advisability of adopting this principle?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI have received representations in the sense of the question put by my hon. Friend The authoritative decision in this matter rests with the Umpire, who has decided that, in the case of workpeople suspended from work over a holiday period, benefit is not payable for the holidays customary at the particular establishment at which they are employed, unless the period of suspension lasts for at least 12 consecutive week-days in addition to the holidays. The length of the customary holiday is a question to be determined by the facts in each particular case, subject to an appeal to the Courts of Referees and if necessary to the Umpire.