HC Deb 21 December 1927 vol 212 cc393-5
20. Sir JOHN SIMON

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will, in the event of the Unemployment Insurance Bill of this Session becoming law, prepare and issue a White Paper setting out in the plainest and simplest terms possible the statute law of unemployment insurance so far as regards contributions, benefits, conditions, appeals, and the like, so that Members of Parliament, local administrators and others specially concerned may have this information without having to trace back through the statute book the results of legislation by reference?

Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND

In accordance with the usual practice, it is proposed to set out the principal provisions of the amended unemployment insurance scheme in a set of explanatory leaflets which will be available to the public. I will consider in what form the information in these leaflets can be made available to the Members of the House.

Sir J. SIMON

Has not the right hon. Gentleman misapprehended the question? I was not asking whether he proposes to issue some document which will explain the changes that have been made. I was asking him whether he proposes to issue some document which

year 1925–26, and for the period 5th July, 1926, to 30th June, 1927:

will show what is the result of those changes and what is the present law.

Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND

I think that is the meaning of my answer, the words of which were that it is proposed to set out the principal provisions of the amended unemployment insurance scheme. That is intended to convey the state of the law as it will be under the amended unemployment insurance scheme.

Mr. WILFRID PALING

Does that mean that the right hon. Gentleman knows what the Bill really means and is going to explain it?

Mr. ERNEST BROWN

Will the right hon. Gentleman include with the leaflets circulated the written answer he gave to the hon. Member for Shrewsbury (Viscount Sandon) yesterday explaining the effect and cost of the Amendments made during the passage of the Bill through Parliament?

Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND

I will consider anything, but on the spur of the moment, that does not seem to me to be a matter of the effect of the amendment of the law, but rather a statement of what would be simply concessions.

Mr. BUCHANAN

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there was issued to members of local committees a codified form of the Regulations now operating, and would he consider issuing the same type of book after the passing of the new Act in the same language, explaining the full provisions, together with the amended as well as the old provisions?

Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND

I am certainly going to consider the best and most handy form in which the informa- tion can be conveyed to local persons interested. Naturally, it will not be in the same words, but in a form in which it makes the substance of the changes most easily intelligible.

Sir J. SIMON

Is the right hon. Gentleman considering whether the documents he is referring to will be documents which will be available to Members of the House of Commons, because they will be Parliamentary papers and which they can ask for on the pink slip if they like?

Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND

I will consider that. I have not as yet made any decision about it. In any case, I can undertake that copies of any communication shall be put in the Library, but I will consider the further point so as to meet the convenience of Members of the House as best I can.

Mr. BARR

Can the right hon. Gentleman not give an undertaking that he will send a copy to every Member of Parliament?