§ Mr. MILLS (by Private Notice)asked the Minister of Labour whether he has received any representations from Rota, Committees and other bodies associated with the problem of unemployment, with special reference to the contributory qualification within the last two years, and whether in view of its effect upon men and women over 50 years of age he will issue revised instructions to Rota Committees to grant benefit until normal trade conditions are restored?
§ The MINISTER of LABOUR (Mr. T. Shaw)As my hon. Friend is no doubt aware, the recent Act gives me power to waive, in the period up to 1st October of next year, the first statutory condition which requires that an applicant shall prove that not less than 30 contributions have been paid in respect of him within the last two insurance years. As a temporary measure, during the change-over to the new Act, the condition has been automatically waived for all persons who have paid 12 contributions since entry into insurance, or who had previously had benefit authorised during a recent period, and further the Local Employment Committees have been authorised to recommend waiver even in the cases not satisfying either of these conditions. I have no evidence that these arrangements have caused any difficulty, and the only representation I can trace is one from a Committee relating to the position after 1st October next year, which however, as I have indicated, is governed by Statute. I may add that I am at present considering the question of waiver after 15th October next when the present temporary arrangements expire.
§ Mr. W. THORNEIs my right hon. Friend aware that in a great number of cases, in which men have been out of employment for over two years through no fault of their own, and have been genuinely seeking employment, they have been turned down for benefit?
§ Mr. SHAWI have no information whatever of that character, and in my answer I have stated that the only representation made to me is with regard to the conditions after the 1st October of next year.
§ Mr. BUCHANANIs my right hon. Friend aware that I personally have sent him cases relating to Ayrshire, in Scotland, where men have been refused benefit for no other reason than that, and that his reply, from a well-fed secretary, was to the effect that they should not get benefit?