42. Lieut.-Colonel Sir FREDERICK HALLasked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider as to making such arrangements with regard to persons out of work who are required to sign on at an Employment Exchange as will ensure their being free at those hours of the day when they are able to look for work with the most chance of success?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Mr. Betterton)Attendance at a local office during ordinary working hours is usually required as evidence that the claimant is in fact unemployed, but other considerations are also kept in mind and suitable arrangements are made in all cases where it appears that attendance at a particular time affects the claimant's opportunities of finding employment. If my hon. Friend will give me particulars of any specific case to which he considers that my attention should be drawn I shall be glad to make inquiries.
Sir F. HALLIs the Parliamentary Secretary aware that in many cases the Employment Exchange requires men to sign an at 9.30 and 9.15 in the morning; that that is the hour when many men would be seeking work from would-be employers; and cannot some arrangement be made so as to meet these men about 2.0 o'clock in the afternoon?
§ Mr. BETTERTONIf the hon. and gallant Member will give me particulars of any such cases, I will look into them and see whether arrangements can be made to meet the situation.