§ 14. Mr. BUCHANANasked the Minister of Labour if he has constituted the court of referees for the City of Glasgow under the new Act: and, if so, can be give the names of the chairmen and lay members of the court?
§ Mr. BETTERTONThe existing Glasgow Court of Referees will be continued without change of area. There will be four chairmen, of whom two will be the existing chairmen, Mr. R. W. Reed and Mr. J. Stewart. There will also be additions to the existing panels of employers' and workers' representatives, but these are not yet complete.
§ Mr. BUCHANANThe hon. Member has 'given me the names of two of the chairmen. Can he state the names of the other two?
§ Mr. BETTERTONNo, Sir, cannot at present, but if the hon. Member will put down a question, perhaps next week. I may be able to tell him.
§ Mr. BUCHANANIs the hon. Member aware that the Act begins to operate on the 19th instant, and that we would like to know the names of the chairmen before it begins to operate?
§ Mr. BETTERTONIt is true that the Act begins to operate to-morrow, but there will not be any great increase in the volume of work of the courts of referees immediately, and I am sure that we shall be able to keep abreast of it and to see that there is no lack of courts, and that the additional courts are constituted in ample time.
§ Mr. BUCHANANIs it the intention, besides continuing in office the two gentlemen who are at present chairmen, to appoint as chairmen the deputy-chairmen who are now acting in the court of referees?
§ Mr. BETTERTONIf the hon. Member is referring to the appointment of the two extra chairmen, I would rather he postponed that question, because the appointments have not been made, although I hope they will be made shortly.
§ Mr. MACLEANThe hon. Member says that the committee expects to keep abreast of the cases that come before it. Are we to understand that any cases coming before the court of referees relating to the circumstances under the old Act will be tried by the old court or by the new court?
§ Mr. BETTERTONI think that cases will be brought before the new courts whether they relate to previous cases or new ones, but, if the hon. Member wishes to have a specific answer, perhaps he will put a question on the Paper.
§ Mr. MACLEANWill it not throw some hardship upon people who will be Out of benefit until the new committee is set up and they can go before the court of referees?
§ Mr. BETTERTONTwo courts are set up already and will begin to operate at once.
§ 15. Mr. SHORTasked the Minister of Labour whether, having regard to the provisions of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1927, he will appoint Courts of Referees which will sit in Wednesbury, Tipton, and Darlaston, respectively?
§ Mr. BETTERTONCourts will sit at the three places mentioned whenever the number of local cases is sufficient.
§ 17. Mr. SHORTasked the Minister of Labour the names of the chairmen of the new Court of Referees appointed to act in the Wednesbury, Tipton, and Darlaston areas, respectively?
§ Mr. BETTERTONThese three areas are at present under the Walsall Court, of which Mr. Carmichael has been reappointed Chairman. It is proposed, however, in the near future to include Wednesbury and Tipton in the areas of the new Courts which are being established for west Bromwich and Dudley, respectively. The chairmen for these two new Courts have not yet been appointed.
§ Mr. BETTERTONI am not quite sure, but I think they will. I will let the hon. Member know
§ 18. Mr. SHORTasked the Minister of Labour whether, in constituting the Court of Referees to operate in the Wednesbury, Tipton, and Darlaston areas, he has invited the various local employers' and workers' organisations to submit names of persons to act thereon?
§ Mr. BETTERTONIn accordance with the Unemployment Insurance (Courts of Referees) Regulations, 1920, these appointments are made after consultation with the appropriate local employment committee, which, as the hon. Member is aware, is representative of local employers and workers. It is for the committee to decide how far it will consult associations of employers and employed before making nominations.
§ Mr. SHORTAm I to understand that new invitations are being sent out for the formation of these new committees which are likely to operate in Tipton and Wednesbury?
§ Mr. BETTERTONNominations are made by the local employment committees, but I cannot say what steps they take to satisfy themselves. The nominations made by them are practically in all cases accepted.