§ 24. Sir ROBERT THOMASasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that an employer who discharges an employé is requested by the Employment Exchange to state, for purposes of unemployment insurance, his reasons for doing so; that when this is due to misconduct the employer lays himself open to proceedings for defamation of character if he returns a true statement; and that in the event of such a prosecution the Ministry refuses to pay the employer's costs or damages; and whether provision can be made to meet this difficulty?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDThe statements of an employer in reply to an inquiry by the Exchange in this connection are made on a privileged occasion. Actions based on these statements have been very few in number and I am advised that they cannot succeed unless the statements can be proved to be both false and malicious. The whole subject is discussed at some length in paragraphs 167–9 of the Report of the Unemployment Insurance Committee, to which I would refer my hon. Friend.