40. Sir F. HALLasked the Minister of Labour how many persons were convicted of fraud in connection with the application for receipt of unemployment benefit during the years 1921, 1922, 1923, and 1924?
May I ask, Mr. Speaker, whether you are aware that words have been left out of the question which are the important part. I want to know whether these persons, by reason of their conviction, have become ineligible for any further unemployment pay?
§ Mr. SPEAKERIt has not been brought to my notice before.
Sir F. HALLOn a point of Order. That is the information I wanted, and that has been specially left out of the question. May I ask on whose authority?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI was not aware of the point. Perhaps the hon. Member had better put another question down covering the query.
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDThe number of persons convicted, bound over or admonished on charges of knowingly making false representations for the purpose of obtaining unemployment benefit was 746 in 1921, 1,570 in 1922, 2,326 in 1923 and 1,779 in 1924.
Sir F. HALLMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he can tell me whether these people who have been convicted of these offences are precluded from obtaining unemployment donations in future?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI find that the reason why that part of the question was disallowed was because it was purely a legal question, and such questions are not allowed. They are matters for the Courts.
§ Mr. BUCHANANCan the right hon. Gentleman give us the percentages of these persons, apart from the total number?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDI could give the figures of the percentages calculated out, if the hon. Gentleman will put down a question.
§ Mr. BUCHANANWill the right hon. Gentleman tell us just roughly?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDPerhaps the hon. Gentleman had better put a question down. I could not give him a rough calculation without it possibly being inaccurate so that he might afterwards complain of it, but, if need be, I can get the percentages with the least possible delay.
§ Mr. J. JONESThe master is not a joke.
Sir F. HALLOn a point of Order. May I say that I am not asking a legal question; I am only asking whether the Regulations laid down by Parliament to preclude those who have been convicted of receiving unemployment donation are being carried out; whether under the law as laid down they can or cannot continue to receive it? I venture to suggest that I am entitled to a reply to that question.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member must let me see that question.
§ Mr. J. JONESArising out of the previous answer, can the Minister of Labour tell us how many bankruptcies there have been in the same period?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDThat is a question that should be addressed to the President of the Board of Trade.
§ Mr. PALINGDoes the right hon. Gentleman think that the figures that he 493 has given bear out the allegation made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer that there is growing up a habit of learning to qualify for the dole?
§ Sir JAMES REMNANTAm I in order, Mr. Speaker, in asking a question as to which of these points have been legally decided, and in how many cases, and, further, since legal decisions have been given, whether further relief has been given to the people?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI think that would be in order, but I would like to see the question in writing.
§ Mr. WALLHEADDoes the right hon. Gentleman think that the figures that have been given by him justify the aspersions cast upon the working classes by the Chancellor of the Exchequer?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI have already said that is a matter of opinion, and for debate.