§ 21. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Minister of Labour whether he 680 is aware of the hardship and inconvenience caused to dock and other casual labourers by the present method of administrating the Unemployment Insurance Act; if he is aware that where a man has signed on for two or three days in the week as out of work, he actually loses by accepting employment on the third or fourth day; and whether he will endeavour to arrive at some other arrangement?
§ 44. Mr. A. T. DAVIESasked the Minister of Labour whether, in the case of men working two and three days or only part of the week, the whole of the unemployment allowance is withheld; and whether, seeing that it is a national advantage for men to work part of a week, he will consider whether a proportional part of the weekly allowance for the unemployed could be allowed to such part-time workers?
§ Sir M. BARLOWIn accordance with Section 7 (2, b) of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1920, persons working on one or two days only in the week can ordinarily qualify for unemployment benefit in respect of the other days, but not those working on three days in the week. Applicants do not lose their tight to unemployment benefit for previous days by accepting employment for one day or two days, provided that they are then unemployed for at least two days. The rules in this connection cannot be altered without fresh legislation, but I am having their working examined with the object of seeing whether any amendment can justifiably be proposed.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIf something can be done by legislation, would it be possible to bring in a short agreed Bill this Session to get rid of these anomalies?
§ Sir M. BARLOWThe difficulties involved, as my hon. and gallant Friend knows, are very considerable. We have had the matter under consideration for some time and I cannot hold out any hope that we shall come to an immediate solution, and therefore I think that it would be unfair to suggest legislation in this short Session, but I am pressing inquiry into the matter and I shall be happy to have another word with my hon. and gallant Friend about it.
§ Mr. SEXTONIs it not a fact that notwithstanding the six days' qualifying period, there are cases of men idle six days of the week who, because they are employed overtime for two hours, after the end of the six days, are, though compelled to pay contributions, disqualified? [HON. MEMBERS: "Speech!"] Will the right hon. Gentleman undertake to give facilities to have an inquiry to remove the anomalies now existing?
§ Sir M. BARLOWIf my hon. Friend can assist me in an inquiry, with employers and employed, to come to some solution of this difficulty, I shall be only too pleased.
§ Mr. SEXTONIt is a very important question, and—[HON, MEMBERS: "Order!"].