§ 14. Mr. SHORTasked the Minister of Labour the total number of claims for unemployed benefit actually admitted on 26th March, 23rd April, and 21st May, 1928, respectively?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDThe only figures available are those for the disallowance of benefit which are obtained once a month. Those for the period ended 14th May, 1928, were published in reply to the hon. Member for Rochdale (Mr. Kelly) on 7th June, and I am sending the hon. Member a copy.
§ 18. Mr. KELLYasked the Minister of Labour the average number of workers in receipt of unemployment benefit in 1927; and the total sum paid for unemployment benefit in 1927?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDThe average number of persons in receipt of unemployment benefit in the calendar year 1927 was about 786,000, and the total benefit paid during that year was £36,747,420.
§ Mr. KELLYIs the differenee between this average of 786,000 and the number of more than 1,000,000 that we are told 970 are unemployed, consequent upon the action of the right hon. Gentleman's Department in refusing benefit to these people?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDOh, no, Sir.
§ 19. Mr. KELLYasked the Minister of Labour the number of insurance benefit claims referred to the chief insurance officer during 1927, and how many of these claims were allowed benefit?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDDuring the year 1927, 564,560 claims to benefit were referred to the chief insurance officer, and in 242,392 cases benefit was allowed by him on such reference.
§ Mr. KELLYWith regard to the discrepancy that is also shown between these figures for cases referred and cases granted, would the right hon. Gentleman say whether much opportunity is given to these people, whose cases are refused in the first instance, to go to the Umpire?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDThese cases in 1927 were, of course, under the old Act. There were in each case regular forms aid conditions under which leave to appeal to the Umpire could be given, and those I can give to the hon. Member if he wishes for them. Of course, at the present moment, the new procedure is coming into force.
§ 22. Mr. MACLEANasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Bernard McKee, 86, Hamilton Street, Govan, worked from July, 1927, to the last fortnight in April, 1928; that he signed seven days and received one day's benefit; then worked for two weeks and was idle for a further seven days, for which he signed but received no benefit; started work on the Tuesday, worked until Saturday, and became idle again; is now drawing benefit, but has only been paid one day for the second seven days on the ground that he must put in a second waiting period; whether he is aware that this reason means that he must have two waiting periods of six days each in four weeks; if this is a new instruction; and, if not, whether he will give instructions that the six days be paid?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDI am having inquiries made, and will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as possible.
§ Mr. MACLEANWill the right hon. Gentleman do his best to expedite this matter, because these men are refused benefit, and, in the case of one of them, money has been deducted from his allowance by the parish council owing to the action of the local Exchange?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDInquiries were instituted as soon as these questions were put down.