§ 81. Mr. BATEYasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that unemployment committees in the County of Durham, in arriving at the means of an unmarried unemployed miner, is reckoning the relief money paid by the Durham Miners' Association to such unemployed miners; whether he is aware that such relief money is obtained by levies paid by the miners who are in employment for the purpose of supplementing the unemployed benefit and not supplanting it; and whether he will consider issuing instructions to the unemployed committees to act differently in the future?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Major Boyd-Carpenter)The action of the local committees is in accordance with the general instructions laid down far their 1015 guidance. My right hon. Friend sees no reason to depart from these instructions in the particular case to which the hon. Member refers.
I would remind the hon. Member that the claims in question are in respect of uncovenanted benefit, that is, benefit which is payable in advance of contributions paid by the applicants to the Unemployment Insurance Fund.
§ Mr. NEIL MACLEANMay I ask the hon. and gallant Gentleman whether the unmarried men now being denied uncovenanted benefit because they reside with their parents will be compelled to pay contributions to make up the loss during the deficiency period?
§ Major BOYD-CARPENTERCertainly it is suggested in the whole scheme that those who are provided with benefit from uncovenanted sources will be called upon hereafter to pay contributions when once more in employment.
§ Mr. MACLEANIs it not the case that these are being denied benefit on the ground that they are living with their parents and unmarried, and that they will also be asked to contribute to make up that deficiency? That is the point I want to put.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member should put that question down.