§ 16. Colonel DAYasked the Minister of Labour the reasons arid the grounds upon which unemployment benefit was refused to Miss A. Neve, 81, Chaucer House, Tabard Street, S.E. [...], Book No. Borough 35,474; and will he cause this case to be reviewed by the umpire?
§ The MINISTER of LABOUR (Sir Arthur Steel-Maitland)This applicant's claim was disallowed in the first instance by the insurance officer for six weeks 355 from 1st April, 1926, because the statutory condition for benefit that she should be "genuinely seeking work" was not satisfied. She appealed to the court of referees, who upheld the disallowance, and did not give leave to appeal to the umpire. I have no authority to intervene. The claim was renewed on 27th May and was allowed as from 20th May.
§ Colonel DAYIn view of the exceptional hardship in this case and the fact that this woman has been genuinely seeking work, will the right hon. Gentleman give it his further consideration?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDI have no power to interfere with the previous decision. It is quite clear, as far as I can make out, that the case was carefully considered. It was reviewed when the six weeks were over, and as during the six weeks she had apparently been making efforts to obtain work the claim was granted on the latter occasion.
§ Colonel DAYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that certain evidence was submitted to the committee which they would not accept or look at?
§ Mr. MACKINDERDoes not the Minister think that the time has come when he ought to lay down some definite guidance for deciding whether a person is or is not genuinely seeking work?
§ 17. Mr. HARMSWORTHasked the. Minister of Labour whether an unemployed person, in all other respects satisfying the conditions for receipt of unemployment benefit, will be disqualified therefrom by an arrangement to study a trade in an employer's workshop without remuneration during training, and without promise of remunerative employment after training, on the undertaking that he should be free to report whenever required at the local Employment Exchange and to accept remunerative employment should the Exchange be able to find him such; and whether the Ministry draws a distinction between a man without remunerative employment willing to endeavour to learn a trade in his own home and one willing to endeavour to learn a trade in somebody else's workshop?
BARNSTON (for Sir A. STEELMAITLAND)The point raised can be determined only by the independent statutory authorities upon a specific case, 356 but I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of a decision by the umpire which sets out the principles which guide his decisions in such cases.