§ 23. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that by a recent decision given by the umpire under the Unemployment Insurance Acts an unemployed person ceases to be entitled to unemployment benefit when he or she reaches the age of 65 whether or not that person is qualified for the old age pension; can he give the approximate number of persons who are affected by this decision; and whether he intends to take any action in the matter?
50. Mr. MALONEasked the Minister of Labour whether the umpire's decision No. 3223/28, has constituted a definite and final ruling that men and women are not entitled to receive any unem- 930 ployment benefit on reaching the age of 65, even if they may not be qualified to draw the old age pension; and, if so whether he will take steps to introduce measures to remove this disqualification?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDThe Umpire's decision in question merely affirmed the provisions of Section 37 (1) of the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Pensions Act, 1925, which enact that unemployment benefit is not payable to persons of the age of 65 or over. I have no statistics showing how many unemployed persons of this age, who were previously insured against unemployment, are not eligible for an old age pension but I have no reason to think that they can be more than a very few.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYWas it the intention of the Minister and his draftsmen that, when a person was not entitled to his old age pension, he should be left stranded without other benefit?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDI personally was not responsible for the drafting of the old Age Pensions Act, but, if the hon. and gallant Gentleman wishes to raise the point, I will consider it with my right hon. Friend who brought it in. It is a point which will need legislation in the case of any Amending Act.
Mr. MALONEIs it made any better whether there are few or many suffering, and would it not be better to remove the hardship instead of paying £400,000 to the brewers?