§ 52. Sir PARK GOFFasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that a workman named Holness, engaged for 22 weeks out of 25 by the Corporation 666 of Redcar, has been declined unemployment benefit on the ground that he was not genuinely seeking work; that another workman named Place, who had 57 stamps for the past two years, has been similarly dealt with; and that a third workman named Campbell, with 38 stamps for the past two years, excluding the period during which he was on compensation, has also been informed that the chief insurance officer had refused his application; whether it is the settled policy of the Department to draw a distinction between work provided by corporations and that organised by private firms; and whether an inquiry will be instituted into these three cases with a view to seeing whether any injustice has been created by the refusal?
§ Mr. BETTERTONThe decision on these claims is a matter, not for the Department, but for the independent statutory authorities. I understand that the matter is still sub judice. I will let my hon. Friend know the final decision.
§ Sir P. GOFFMay I ask my hon. Friend what constitutes genuinely seeking work?
§ Mr. BETTERTONThat is the very question which the statutory authorities will have to decide.