36. Mr. G. WHITEasked the Minister of Labour whether, pending the Report of the Trades Disputes Disqualification Committee, he will take steps to expedite the settlement of appeals to the Court of Referees and to the Umpire?
§ Mr. BETTERTONI am not aware that there is any undue delay in the hearing of appeals by the courts of referees and the umpire. Some delay is occasionally unavoidable owing to the need for inquiry into the facts or for careful consideration of difficult questions of interpretation which not infrequently arise.
Mr. WHITEIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the applicants have to wait so long as two months for a decision?
§ Mr. BETTERTONI am not aware of what is stated in that supplementary question, but I would point out that these decisions very often involve very difficult legal questions, and they can only be settled after very full and careful consideration.
§ Mr. SHORTIs the hon. Gentleman prepared to give assistance to deal with those extraordinary cases?