§ 37. Mr. SEXTONasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that uncovenanted benefit has been refused to men working short time, alternative weeks, in the St. Helens glass industry on the grounds that they are not entitled to such benefit by regulation issued in Circular 535, Section 4, Clause 2; that this affects 600 men and their families; and if, in view of the fact that deductions are made from their scanty wages and the hardship of such cases, he will give favourable consideration to their appeal?
§ Sir M. BARLOWUnder the powers conferred by the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1922, the Minister has decided that uncovenanted benefit should not ordinarily be paid to persons working short time who are earning, on the average, half, or more than half, their normal earnings. Local employment committees may, however, recommend pay- 1327 ment of benefit in cases where the earnings are so low as to justify a grant being made. I am having inquiry made into cases arising at St. Helens, and will communicate the result to my hon. Friend.