HC Deb 06 May 1929 vol 227 c1943
22. Mr. KELLY (for Mr. ROBINSON)

asked the Minister of Labour whether any instructions have been issued to the managers of Employment Exchanges to disallow unemployment benefit in the case of female workers in the textile industry if they refuse to accept employment charing; and, if so, seeing that charing would ruin their hands for the fine work that is done in the mill and prevent them resuming their normal occupation, will he have the instruction withdrawn?

Mr. BETTERTON

No such instructions have been given.

Mr. KELLY

In view of what is happening in Lancashire, where these people, by being sent to this work, are being rendered unavailable for employment by reason of the destruction of their hands, will the hon. Gentleman make inquiries of the Exchanges there in order to put a stop to this practice, which is being carried out without instructions?

Mr. BETTERTON

If the hon. Gentleman will give me any case which he thinks, in view of the answer I have given, merits inquiry, of course I will make inquiries into it.

Mr. KELLY

I certainly will.

Mr. AUSTIN HOPKINSON

Can the hon. Gentleman inform us why it is that, if these women clean other people's houses, they are ruined for life, whereas, if they clean their own, as they frequently do, no harm is done to their hands?

Mr. KELLY

May I ask whether the work that is required from these women who are being sent out is not entirely different from that of doing their own housework?

Mr. BETTERTON

Both the supplementary questions are questions for the statutory authority, not for me.

Sir H. BRITTAIN

Does not the same question arise in putting the whole unemployed population on to making new roads?