§ 51. Mr. KELLYasked the Minister of Labour the number of insurance officers who are engaged on the work of deciding the claims made for unemployment insurance benefit; and whether all cases of disputed benefit are referred to the chief insurance officer before reference to a court of referees?
§ Mr. BETTERTONThe chief insurance officer at the Claims and Record Office, Kew, has a staff of 56 insurance officers. All claims to benefit, having the minimum contribution qualification, which are not allowed forthwith at the local office, are referred to the chief insurance officer and his staff at Kew for allowance or disallowance. All such claims which go on appeal to a court of referees must first have been disallowed by an insurance officer at Kew.
§ Mr. KELLYIs it the fact then that cases which are being referred to a court of referees have first to be placed before the chief insurance officer?
§ Mr. BETTERTONYes, Sir.
§ Mr. KELLYWhat is the reason for employing these 56 officers in the districts if all cases of dispute which are to go to a court of referees have to be sent to Kew?
§ Mr. BETTERTONAs I explained in my answer, the chief insurance officer at Kew has a staff of 56 insurance officers. If the hon. Gentleman is referring to the officers in the districts, they have no power to disallow except in cases where it is a matter of calculating the contributions for qualification.
§ Mr. W. THORNEIs the hon. Gentleman aware of the universal discontent caused by the long delay which takes place in examining these claims at Kew?
§ Mr. BETTERTONI am not aware of that fact. We do our utmost to expedite matters.