26. Lord HENRY CAVENDISHBENTINCKasked the Minister of Labour how many persons are at present receiving extended unemployment benefit; how many of these are ex-service men; and how many, if any, are persons who have had no employment since the War?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDI regret that statistics are not available giving the information desired.
§ 34. Mr. WELLOCKasked the Minister of Labour if he can give information as to the number of applications for extended benefit that were received, and the number rejected, during 1925 and 1926, at the Stourbridge, Cradley Heath and Oldbury Exchanges, respectively; and how these figures compare with those for the country as a whole?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDAs the reply includes a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the statement:
§ committees not to take into account lump-sum settlements made under the Workmen's Compensation Acts when considering applications for unemployment benefit?
1991§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDThese lump-sum settlements are, generally speaking, only material in cases where the family income is a factor. I think that in such cases usually it is only right to have regard to these lump-sum payments, but I shall be happy to consider any individual case of hardship if the hon. Member will give me particulars.
§ Mr. SHORTWill the right hon. Gentleman reconsider the position having regard to the principle underlying the answer he has now given?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDNo, Sir. It has been considered quite carefully, and I think it is fair.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSis not the right hon. Gentleman aware that in many cases employers refuse to reinstate their injured workmen unless they accept a lump sum settlement, and in that case is it not merely a question of taking from a man, or refusing to give to a man, that portion which he would have been given if he had continued to take his weekly compensation?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDIf the hon. Member will put any additional cases before me I will consider them, but I cannot give an answer on the spur of the moment to a rather complicated question like that.
§ Mr. SHORTWill the right hon. Gentleman note that this is not income, as such, but is the result of payment for an accident?
§ Mr. WILLIAMSAnd will the right hon. Gentleman take note of this fact: that a man's wages in the future are permanently reduced as a result of his accident?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDIf hon. Members will put these points to me, I will undertake to give them careful consideration.