67. Mr. TREVELYAN THOMSONasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that, owing to the recent administration of extended benefit, the cost of poor relief to able-bodied unemployed persons has increased by over £1,000 per week in the Middlesbrough Union during the last six months; and, in view of the heavy additional burden thus thrown on the local rates, will he reconsider the issue of fresh Regulations modifying the stringency of the present administration of unemployment benefit?
§ 69. Mr. LANSBURYasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that out of a total of over 5,000 able-bodied persons and their dependants in receipt of relief in the Poplar Union at least. 3,600 are not in receipt of unemployment benefit of any kind; that a considerable number of these are men and women to whom unemployment benefit bits been refused during the last few months; that the extra cost of these maintenance of these men and their dependants has added £2,000 a week to the 1379 expenditure of the guardians; and what steps he proposes to take to relieve the ratepayers of London of the cost of maintaining the unemployed whose unemployment is not due to local but to national causes?
§ Mr. BETTERTONMy right hon. Friend indicated in reply to questions on 10th February that he was making inquiry as to the extent to which persons disqualified for benefit apply for poor relief and with what result. Meanwhile I can only point out that, save in a very few cases of aliens, the discretionary power of the Minister to refuse unemployment benefit is exercised only when the claimant would suffer no hardship, and should not therefore throw any burden on the Poor Law. Other refusals of benefit are consequent on the statutory requirements and not on the exercise of any discretion vested in the Minister.
Mr. THOMSONIs the Parliamentary Secretary aware that owing to the increase of unemployment in the Middlesbrough Union the guardians have had to increase the rate by is in the £ during the forthcoming year, and will he expedite an inquiry into this question as soon as possible?
§ Mr. BETTERTONYes, Sir, but I am sure my right hon. Friend wishes the inquiry to he as complete as possible, and it will therefore take some time. If it were merely a perfunctory inquiry it would serve no useful purpose.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSIs the hon. Gentle man aware that the Minister of Labour has informed the House that the increase of recipients of Poor Law in 12 months is 236,000, and is that consistent with the hon. Gentleman's reply?
§ Mr. BETTERTONI see nothing in those figures inconsistent with the answer I have given.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSIf an applicant for Poor Law relief can prove that he is endeavouring to seek work, he can also prove the same thing to the people at the Employment Exchange, and thereby qualify for unemployment pay.