§ 28. Mr. BUCHANANasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that men and women who have no dependants are questioned in detail regarding their family income; that information is in many cases sent to the Court of Referees; if this information is taken into account by the chief insurance officer when deciding cases; and if he will take steps to have this practice discontinued?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDAs I told the hon. Member in reply to a supplementary question last week, the amount of the family income may be a material factor in certain cases quite apart from the question of dependant's benefit and for that reason I cannot have the practice discontinued.
§ Mr. BUCHANANWill the right hon. Gentleman say where he gets his authority for his action? Under what authority does the right hon. Gentleman's Department question a man about his family income?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDThe interviewing officer on behalf of the chief insurance officer has to satisfy himself, so far as is possible, whether the conditions for benefit are observed, and it is for that purpose that he has the right to put these questions.
§ Mr. BUCHANANWill the right hon. Gentleman answer my question? Under what authority does he get the right to challenge a man's income other than his own? From where does he derive his authority?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDFrom the Unemployment Insurance Acts of 1920 to 1927.
§ Mr. BUCHANANIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the last Act passed deliberately excluded inquiry into family income, and will he state in what part of any of the Acts he has authority to challenge a man's private affairs?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDIf the hon. Member will put down a further question on the Paper, I shall be glad to give him an answer.
§ Mr. BUCHANANWill the right hon. Gentleman state whether it is not the case that he is acting quite illegally and contrary to the Act?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDNo, Sir, I am not.
§ 29. Mr. BUCHANANasked the Minister of Labour the total number of claims for unemployment benefit in Glasgow during the past year and the number of refusals, and the figures for last year?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDI will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement giving such particulars as I can, as soon as they have been tabulated.
§ 35. Mr. MARCHasked the Minister of Labour why Mr. Henry Cruskall, of 92, High Street, Poplar, was given Form U 188 from the Exchange far training at the British Legion school at Peckham for taximeter-cab driving and was paid unemployment benefit for about four weeks, and then was stopped and had to go before the Court of Referees, who have informed him that he is only an apprentice and not entitled to benefit, and yet a number of others there who signed as he did are receiving benefit; 2999 and, seeing that he has been following up the training for about 12 weeks with no pay, can he say what can be done for this man?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDI am having inquiry made into this case, and I will let the hon. Member know the result as soon as possible.