§ 30. Mr. DAYasked the Minister of Labour what are the matters taken into consideration by the committee at the Walworth Road, Borough, Employment Exchange, which caused them to reject, during the 12 months ended 9th April, 1928, 1,313 applications for unemployment benefit on the grounds that the applicants were not making every reasonable effort to obtain suitable employment; and can he state by what methods the committee arrived at their decision to refuse a further 297 applicants on the grounds that applicants at this Exchange were not seeking to obtain a livelihood by means of insurable employment?
§ Mr. BETTERTONI would refer the hon. Member to Memorandum L.E.C. 82/15, of which I am sending him a copy, which sets out the considerations by which the Committee were guided in making their recommendations.
§ Mr. DAYIs the hon. Gentleman aware that this number of refusals is over 30 per cent. of refusals on the ground of "not genuinely seeking work," and is that not rather an absurd percentage?
§ Mr. BETTERTONI am not prepared to say whether it is absurd or otherwise. I have no doubt that all relevant considerations were taken into account.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member has a little more than his share of the time during questions.
§ 39. Mr. BROADasked the Minister of Labour how many applicants for standard benefit have been refused it on the ground that they were apparently over the age of 65 years, from 2nd January to 30th April this year; how many have been restored to benefit subsequently on proof of their age; how many, who were unable to prove their age, have been denied either unemployment benefit or old age pension when they were legally entitled to one or the other; and will he take steps, in conjunction with the Ministry of Health, to see that none are excluded from unemployment benefit on account of age until they have been recognised for old age pension?
§ Mr. BETTERTONThe only statistics I have are those for the number of persons, namely, about 33,100, who in 1867 the period up to 30th April ceased to have current claims to benefit, standard or extended, by reason of having attained the age of 65. If a claim to an old age pension is rejected on the ground that the claimant has not reached the age of 65, he is treated as under 65 for the purposes of unemployment benefit. I am considering whether it is possible to make an interim payment in cases where the claimant, according to his own statement is over 65, but the evidence of age is defective and needs examination. I would point out, however, that the most effective remedy lies in the hands of the claimants themselves who may and should apply for a pension in good time to allow for any necessary inquiries.
§ Mr. BROADHow is the hon. Gentleman going to deal with these cases in which applicants have been refused benefit on the ground that they are under 65 and how are these people going to live in the meantime?
§ Mr. BETTERTONAs I stated in the answer, if a claim to a pension is rejected on the ground that the claimant has not reached the age of 65, he is treated as under 65 for the purposes of benefit.