HC Deb 29 July 1925 vol 187 cc413-4
27. Mr. STEPHEN

asked the Minister of Labour the amount of weekly income coming into a home which will be taken as determining the availability of insurance benefit for applicants living at home under the new powers which the Minister is seeking at the present time?

Mr. BETTERTON

The rules to be applied in this connection cannot be finally decided until the Unemployment Insurance Bill becomes law. I may point out, however, that when a discretionary power was previously vested in the Minister the question of family income was left very largely to the discretion of the local employment committees, and I anticipate that the same procedure will be followed under the present Bill.

Mr. STEPHEN

Can the Minister not give us some sort of rough idea what are the figures he is using in this connection?

Mr. BETTERTON

I do not think that arises out of the question. I would much rather give it in debate.