§ 59. Mr. W. THORNEasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that the managers of the Employment Exchanges at Stratford and Canning Town have been instructed not to pay any of the men working at the various wharves who are not dock workers; that some of the men were not shut out until 9th July, and that the insurance officers have been instructed not to pay the men after 5th July; and if he will take action in the matter?
§ Sir M. BARLOWThe insurance officer has decided that persons normally employed at the London Docks, within the area of the general dispute, whether dock workers or otherwise, are in general disqualified for unemployment benefit as from the 5th July under Section 8 (1) of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1920. When special circumstances apply to particular cases, these circumstances are taken into account by the chief insurance officer, and, if the claimant is dissatisfied with the decision, his remedy is to appeal to the Court of Referees.
§ Mr. THORNEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in all these cases 1710 his decision has been the means of driving these people to the Poor Law authority? Would he like my opinion on that decision?
§ Sir M. BARLOWI am always to glad to receive communications from the hon. Member on any subject.
§ Mr. THORNEYou will not be on this question.
§ Sir M. BARLOWThe hon. Member must really discriminate between the decision of the Minister and that of an independent arbiter set up by Act of Parliament for this express purpose, and, as the hon. Member knows, subject to a right of appeal.
§ Mr. THORNEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that these men are not dock workers or transport workers at all, and yet they have been cut right away from their pay?
§ Mr. MARCHIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are a large number of casual carmen who are not connected with the dock strike, but who, because of the strike, cannot get either work or unemployment pay?