§ 81. Mr. SMEDLEY CROOKEasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that when an unemployed person is called before the court of referees and his claim is disallowed, he can only appeal against a decision through his trade union; if he is not a trades unionist, he can only appeal by permission of the court, and if this is refused, it causes considerable hardship in a large number of cases; and if he will consider whether this regulation can be altered?
§ Mr. BETTERTONThe provisions with regard to this matter are statutory and could not be altered without legislation. I may add that the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1927, provides that the Court of Referees shall give the individual claimant leave to appeal in any case in which it appears to the Court reasonable so to do, having regard to the importance of the principle involved in the case or any other special circumstances.