§ 22. Mr. AYLESasked the Minister of Labour what the cost would be, first, to reduce the waiting time to qualify for unemployed pay to three days and, second, to limit the need to qualify on the present basis to one period in each six months?
§ Mr. SHAWIt is difficult to form an estimate, but the cost under the first head, at the rates proposed under the Unemployment Insurance Bill now before the House, would probably be from four to four and a-half million pounds per annum, Under the second head the cost is very uncertain, but I should hesitate to put it at less than £3,000,000.
§ 23. Mr. AYLESasked the Minister of Labour if he is prepared to consider the position of men and women on half time who work and stand off on alternate weeks during the year; and whether he will consider the best means for reducing the hardship on those who are thus unemployed for several months in the year and yet unentitled to receive unemployment pay?
§ Mr. SHAWInsured contributors who work and stand off in alternate weeks are already entitled to benefit in respect of idleness, except for the first of such weeks, which forms the waiting week.
§ Mr. WHITEis the right hon. Gentleman fully seized of the hardship arising to those insured persons 398 whose incidence of employment may leave them with a gap of several weeks?
§ Mr. AYLESIs it not true that a man, after he has worked three weeks, and having qualified, has to qualify again?
§ Mr. SHAWYes, but this question speaks of people who stand off in alternate weeks, which is a different question.
§ Mr. G. SPENCERCan the right hon. Gentleman say why, if one member of this Fund is entitled to out-of-work pay if he stands off in alternate weeks, another member, who can only make two days a week over a long period, is not so entitled?