§ 34. Mr. GRAHAM WHITEasked the Minister of Labour the number of appeals arising under Section 8 (1) of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1920, made to the Court of Referees and the umpire during 1923, and the number of such appeals which were disallowed?
§ Mr. SHAWDuring the year 1923, 11,598 appeals against disallowance under Section 8 (1) of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1920, were made to the Courts of Referees, and in 8,456 cases the Courts of Referees recommended disallowance. During the same period 2,072 cases were referred to the umpire, and of these 1,573 were disallowed. I should point out that the number of claims affected by these appeals was much larger than the figures mentioned, as the appeals were frequently taken on test cases.
§ Mr. MILLSWould the Minister of Labour be prepared to allow an applicant before a referee to have the services of a friend? There are cases—
§ Mr. SPEAKERIt is quite a new point. The hon. Member had better put a question down.