HC Deb 15 July 1925 vol 186 cc1271-2
35. Sir MERVYN MANNINGHAM-BULLER

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will have notices posted outside the Employment Exchanges to the effect that those accepting temporary agricultural work will not be disqualified from receiving unemployment benefit, but that on the contrary acceptance of such work for a short period will be regarded as a definite indication that a man is genuinely seeking work, and thereby remove any misunderstanding on this matter?

36. Brigadier-General WARNER

asked the Minister of Labour if, with a view to removing a widespread misunderstanding that exists in agricultural districts, he will cause an early notice to be circulated through the Press, particularly the Sunday newspapers, to the effect that men who are receiving unemployment benefit, should they engage in temporary work on the land, will not be disqualified from receiving it at the termination of work of this character?

39. Mr. FOOT MITCHELL

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give instructions to Employment Exchanges to the effect that workers insured under the Unemployment Insurance Act who take up temporary agricultural work shall retain, when they cease to be so employed, full benefits as normally insured workers?

The MINISTER of LABOUR (Sir Arthur Steel-Maitland)

I will, if I may, answer these questions together. A notice on this subject, of which I am circulating a copy in the OFFICIAL REPORT, was issued to the Press on 4th July, by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture at my suggestion. A similar notice has been sent to various organisations representing farmers. Arrangements are being made to post up the notice at Employment Exchanges, to have it published as far as may be practicable in the local Press in various parts of the country, and in addition it has been brought to the knowledge of farmers individually, e.g., by the distribution of a leaflet at the Royal Agricultural Society's show which was held at Chester last week.

Mr. BUCHANAN

if a local committee, in ignorance or in defiance of those instructions, refuse a man benefit and the facts are brought before my right hon. Friend, will he undertake to review the case?

Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND

Certainly, I will review any case, as I think the hon. Member knows.

Mr. HURD

Will the right hon. Gentleman himself look at the notice, to see if it would not be possible to frame it in simpler language, so that it would be better understood?

Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND

If the hon. Member will confer with me afterwards I will see if it is possible to put it more simply, but I must remind Members that it is impossible to be accurate on a very technical subject and at the same time always to be as simple as one could wish.

Mr. BECKETT

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether the notice will cover the cases of those who are employed on relief work by local authorities in parks and places of that sort?

Mr. SPEAKER

I think notice ought to be given of that question.

Following is the notice mentioned:

"EMPLOYMENT IN FARM WORK.

Farmers requiring additional temporary labour for any type of work for which no great skill or experience is required are urged to apply to the nearest Employment Exchange in cases where no local men are available. It frequently happens that men on the register of an Employment Exchange though not skilled agricultural labourers have at one time or another had some agricultural experience and should be quite able to do unskilled work on a farm.

It is essential that full particulars of the labour required should be given and that the wages and conditions of work and the accommodation available should be stated. As long notice as possible should be given to the Exchange.

It is sometimes thought that temporary employment on farm work makes a man ineligible for benefit under the Unemployment Insurance Act when the work comes to an end, but this is not the case. Indeed the acceptance of work on a farm for a short period is a definite indication that a man is genuinely seeking work, and would be regarded as such by the Ministry of Labour when next he makes a claim to benefit.

Ministry of Agriculture and

Fisheries,

10, Whitehall Place, S.W.I.

4th July, 1925."