§ 28. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the dissatisfaction felt by dock 2312 workers at Hull and other ports at having to sign, as unemployed, twice instead of once daily; if he is aware that, because he must sign between the hours of 9 and 10 in the morning and between two and three in the afternoon, many a man may lose a tidal job, or, on the other hand, because he has waited for such a job or gone in search of it from one dock to another, he may miss the opportunity for signing, and so forfeit his benefit; if he is aware that, on account of the inconvenience involved, there are many hardworking men who never sign on as un employed; and whether he will consider reverting to the practice of signing only once daily and of stiffening up the penalty for men detected in fraud, or take other steps to remove this grievance?
§ 30. Mr. GROVESasked the Minister of Labour whether he will be prepared to consider the alteration of the Clause in the Unemployment Insurance Act which requires dock labourers to register twice per day at the Employment Exchange to prove unemployment on any one day?
§ Mr. SHAWAs there are usually two "calls" a day, the ordinary practice is to require dock workers claiming benefit to sign the unemployed register twice a day, once after each "call." The signing places are in the vicinity of the docks, and in a number of cases special huts have been provided for the purpose. In general, I think these arrangements ought to be maintained, but I am always ready to look into any particular cases of difficulty, and I am inquiring into the case of the tidal workers referred to by the hon. and gallant Member for Central Hull (Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy).
§ Mr. SEXTONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that other casual workers at the docks, such as ship workers, are only asked to sign on twice a week, while the casual docker is expected to sign, and has to pay tram fares to and from his home, twice a day? Cannot some arrangement be made whereby the same principle shall apply to dock workers as to ship workers?
§ Mr. SHAWThe last part of the answer I have given to the hon. and gallant Gentleman the Member for Central Hull (Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy) may be taken by the hon. Member for St. Helens 2313 (Mr. Sexton). If he has any cases of special difficulty, or any other matters, I shall be very pleased to discuss them with him.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYWill the right hon. Gentleman communicate with me when he has come to a decision regarding the tidal workers?