§ 9. Mr. FENBYasked the Minister of Labour how many men and women, respectively, have ceased to be insurable under the Unemployment Insurance Act on becoming eligible to receive old age pensions under the provisions of the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1925?
§ Mr. BETTERTONUnder the provisions of Section 37 of the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1925, which came into operation on 2nd January, 1928, all persons aged 65 or over ceased to be insured under the Unemployment Insurance Acts, whether entitled to an old age pension or not. It was estimated that at 2nd January, 1928, there were 319,000 men and 23,000 women who thus ceased to be insurable.
§ Mr. SHINWELLDoes that mean that more than 300,000 persons ought ordinarily to be included in the unemployment figure, but are not included because they are eligible for old age pensions?
§ Mr. BETTERTONNo; that is a complete misconception. Out of this number it is estimated that there are perhaps 30,000 unemployed, but to arrive at the value or accuracy of the figures returned every week, that is more than offset by an arrangement which has recently been made under which persons not entitled to benefit attend the Employment Exchanges to have their health cards stamped, who formerly were not included in the figures at all.
§ Mr. HARDIEDoes the figure of 30,000 represent those who had, say, 20s. or 236. a week unemployment benefit but who have been transferred under the Old Age Pensions Act and have become receivers of 10s. a week?