21. Mr. TREVELYAN THOMSONasked the Minister of Labour the number of applications for extended benefit in the Middlesbrough area during the last six months; the number granted and refused; and similar figures for the corresponding period a year ago?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Mr. Betterton)During the six months ended 11th October, 1926, the number of applications for extended benefit considered by the Middlesbrough Local Employment Committee was 35,930, of which 33,564 were recommended for allowance and 2,366 for disallowance. The figures for the corresponding period of 1925 were 28,109, 26,091 and 2,018, respectively.
22. Mr. THOMSONasked the Minister of Labour the number of cases in the Middlesbrough area in which he was unable to accept the decision of the rota committee as regards applications for extended benefit during the past six months?
§ Mr. BETTERTONDuring the six months ended 11th October, 1926, the number of cases in which the recommendations of the Middlesbrough Local Employment Committee in regard to applications for extended benefit were not accepted was 97 out of nearly 36,000 dealt with.
Mr. THOMSONWhat are the reasons for suggesting that the Minister of Labour knows better than the local committee the merits of each case?
§ Mr. BETTERTONThe hon. Member knows that under the Act the ultimate decision is placed on the Minister. That discretion is placed upon him by Parliament, and that discretion he is bound to exercise. But, as I have told the hon. Member, the number of cases where he 1838 has disagreed with the local committee is less than one-third of 1 per cent.