§ 27. Mr. SHORTasked the Minister of Labour whether the Trades Dispute Disqualification Committee is now in a position to report; and, if not, when does he expect such a Report?
30. Mr. TREVELYAN THOMSONasked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the increase in the number of insured persons who are at present deprived, under Section 8 (1) of the 1920 Act, of the unemployment benefit for which they have contributed, he will urge the Committee which has been considering the modification of this Section for more than a year to report promptly, so as to afford relief, where possible, to the innocent victims of trade disputes for which they are in no way responsible?
§ Mr. BETTERTONI would refer the hon. Members to the reply given to the hon. Member for Dundee on Thursday last.
§ Mr. SHORTCan the hon. Gentleman say when this Committee, which was appointed over a year ago, is going to report, and has he used any influence with the Committee to report?
§ Mr. BETTERTONAs I said in my previous answer, the Committee has met almost every week, and I think the last meeting was only a fortnight ago. It must not be assumed that they cannot come to an agreement. They fully realise the importance of coming to a decision as quickly as possible.
§ Mr. W. THORNECan the hon. Gentleman say who is responsible for them not coming to a decision; is it words that are wanted?
§ Mr. BETTERTONI cannot say.
§ Sir JOHN SIMONIs it a fact that this Committee has been continuously sitting for more than a year? Is it not rather the fact that the Committee met some time ago, and could not agree, and that the Government have not done anything to secure agreement as to phraseology?
§ Mr. BETTERTONI do not think that that inference is justifiable. There is a later question on the Paper. But it would not do to assume that the Committee cannot come to an agreement. I have every hope that they will.
Mr. T. THOMSONIf the Committee sitting for 14 months does not come to a decision before the reassembly of Parliament will the Government face the question themselves and bring in amending legislation?
§ Mr. BETTERTONI should prefer to wait first and see what are the results of the Committee's deliberations.
§ Mr. PRINGLEHow long does the hon. Gentleman intend to wait?
§ Mr. BETTERTONObviously I intend to wait until I am satisfied that there is no reasonable chance of the Committee being able to come to a conclusion. It would be very improper so long as there is a chance of their coming to a conclusion of acting in the direction suggested.
§ Mr. PRINGLEWould another year be ample?
§ Mr. W. THORNEThere is absolutely no chance at all of their coming to an agreement!
31. Mr. GRAHAM WHITEasked the Minister of Labour on what date the Committee inquiring into the possibility of amending Section 8 (1) of the 1920 Unemployment Insurance Act was ap-ponted; the number of meetings it has held; and the date of the last meeting?
§ Mr. BETTERTONThe Committee was appointed in June, 1922; nine meetings have been held; the date of the last meeting was 24th July, 1923.
§ Mr. SHINWELLIs it not obvious from that answer that the Committee is not adequate to deal with this important matter?
§ Mr. BETTERTONI cannot accept that.
§ Mr. SHINWELLIs it the contention of the hon. Gentleman that the Committee has met almost every week?
§ Mr. BETTERTONNo, I did not say that—[HON. MEMBERS: "Yes, you did!"] What I said was that the last meeting was about a fortnight ago.
§ Mr. SHINWELLDid not the hon. Gentleman say in a previous supplementary answer that the Committee was meeting almost every week, and therefore—
§ Mr. BETTERTONIf I said that, I did not mean to say it. What I meant to say, and what I do now say, is that the last meeting of the Committee was as recently as 24th July, and that we have not yet abandoned hope that they will come to a decision.
§ Mr. BETTERTONI am afraid I cannot give that offhand.
§ Mr. PRINGLEIf we are to understand that during 12 months the Committee have only met nine times, how does the hon. Gentleman reconcile that with the statement that the Committee meets once a week?
§ Mr. BETTERTONI have already said that I did not say, or did not mean to say, that the Committee met every week—
§ Mr. PRINGLEYou said "nearly."
§ Mr. BETTERTONWhat I said was that the Committee had met recently.
§ Mr. SHORTOn a point of Order. I should like to call your attention, Mr. Speaker, to the large number of questions upon this very important matter. The Minister of Labour is not present, and this is just before the House goes into Recess. Are we not entitled to have some explanation of his absence?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member had better put down a question.
§ 33. Mr. T. SMITHasked the Minister of Labour the names of those who constitute the Trades Disputes Disqualification Committee; and what changes, if any, have taken place since its appointment?
§ Mr. BETTERTONI will, if I may, circulate the reply in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. SHORTCan the hon. Gentleman say whether the change in the representation is due to some disagreement with the policy of the employers on the Committee?
§ Mr. BETTERTONI could certainly not answer that question without notice.
§ Mr. SHINWELLCould the hon. Gentleman say whether many changes have taken place?
§ Mr. BETTERTONThe only change in the constitution of the original Committee is the substitution of Mr. W. B. Yates as Chairman owing to the death of Sir T. Munro, and the appointment of Mr. Hargreaves in the place of the hon. Gentleman the Member for Stretford (Sir T. Robinson).
§ The reply is as follows:
§ The composition of the Trade Disputes Disqualification Committee is as follows: