§ 27. Mr. R. YOUNGasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that, Mr. John Malley, 2, Bodden Street, Lawton, Lancashire, was in receipt of unemployment benefit towards the end of 1927; that his benefit was stopped on account of his applying for an old age pension; and that his application for a pension failed owing to doubts about his age; and whether, seeing that, under these circumstances, he is entitled to payment of unemployment benefit from the date of its cessation, as he is still signing at the employment exchange, he will take steps to expedite the payment of any benefit due to this man?
§ Mr. BETTERTONAs was stated in a reply given to the hon. Member yester-
§ figures for the corresponding date in 1927?
§ Mr. BETTERTONAs 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:
§ day, the claim to an old age pension in this ease has now been admitted, and the question of paying unemployment benefit does not arise.
§ Mr. YOUNGCan the hon. Gentleman say whether this man's benefit stopped before his old age pension was granted?
§ Mr. BETTERTONI think the unemployment benefit was not paid. The question of the man's age, and therefore his eligibility for old age pension, had to be decided.
§ Mr. YOUNGAre we to understand that a man who applies for an old age pension must go without anything until the old age pension has been granted?
§ Mr. BETTERTONNo, Sir. If a case is made out for unemployment benefit, 1705 of course unemployment benefit is paid, but, as the hon. Gentleman knows, until the facts are ascertained, it is impossible to say whether benefit or pension is payable. In this particular case, I understand, there was a doubt as to the man's age—whether he was 65 or 63. If this had been reported by the claimant to the Exchange, benefit would have been continued till the point was settled.