§ 63. Mr. GROVESasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that men who have been engaged on schemes of relief work under the West Ham Council and Guardians have been refused benefit by and through the Canning Town Employment Exchange, on the ground that they are not making every reasonable effort to obtain employment suited to their capacities and that they are not willing to accept such employment; whether he will investigate the circumstances attending the fact that such definite instructions to so disqualify such workers have been given in writing to the members of the rota committee by the officers of the Canning Town Employment Exchange; and whether he will issue definite instructions on this matter, indicating that all such stamps for periods of work are valid contributions to the benefit of a worker or absolve local authorities completely from the liability of such contributions and refund all such moneys so paid?
§ Mr. BETTERTONIf I understand him aright, what the hon. Member asks is that the acceptance of employment as relief work should be regarded as sufficient proof that a person is making every reasonable effort to obtain employment suited to his capacities and willing to accept such employment and is, therefore, qualified for extended benefit. I cannot accept this suggestion. Each case must be decided in the light of all the 753 facts. As regards contributions, I assure the hon. Member that all those paid in respect of insurable relief work are valid contributions and are so treated.
§ Mr. GROVESAm I to understand that the policy of the Ministry is that work under the relief schemes of the boards of guardians is not accepted as constituting" a reasonable effort to obtain employment," and will he kindly answer the first part of my question as to whether or not he is aware of the instructions issued by his officials to the rota committee?
§ Mr. BETTERTONAccording to my information, no such instructions were issued. If the hon. Member will see me afterwards, I will look into the matter.
§ 64. Mr. GROVESasked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the fact that the West Ham Board of Guardians have introduced a system of relief work whereby men are employed on jobs for such periods only as will permit them to earn wages equal to the amount they would otherwise receive in relief; whether he is aware that this exchange of labour is performed without any reference to the local Employment Exchanges; and whether he will take steps to see that the local Employment Exchange offers to the guardians the necessary skilled or unskilled labour at the current trade union rates of pay and conditions of labour generally?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of HEALTH (Sir Kingsley Wood)My right hon. Friend is aware that arrangements have been made by the West Ham guardians and by some other boards of guardians to secure, by co—operation with the local authorities, a certain measure of employment for persons who would otherwise be in receipt of relief and have no useful employment. As the persons employed under such schemes are selected from those who make application to the guardians it is unnecessary that the guardians should obtain the assistance of the local Labour Exchange.
§ Mr. GROVESIs the Minister aware that people in West Ham under these schemes are only allowed to work the exact number of hours which will qualify them to earn the amount of money they would otherwise receive in relief; and 754 does he realise that in West Ham these poor people have no chance of qualifying?
§ Sir K. WOODI am not aware of those facts. If the hon. Member puts them to me, I will investigate them.
§ Miss WILKINSONIs the hon. Gentleman aware that certain boards of guardians, having allowed a man to work for one week, disqualify him from receiving relief for the next three weeks, so that a man has to live for a month on one week's wages; and will he look into that matter?