§ 1. Mr. GRAHAM WHITEasked the Minister of Labour if she can make a statement with regard to the work of the local boards of assessors under the Unemployment Insurance Acts since they were set up?
§ 16. Sir ASSHETON POWNALLasked the Minister of Labour in how many cases the procedure of referring questions regarding the fulfilment of the genuinely seeking work condition to local boards of assessors has been adopted, and with what results; and what proportion cases so referred bear to the total number of cases during the same period where benefit has been refused for this reason?
§ The MINISTER of LABOUR (Miss Bondfield)As the reply contains a table of figures I will, with the permission of the hon. Members, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the reply:
§ The procedure for referring certain questions arising on claims for unemployment benefit to local boards of assessors came into force on 9th September last. In the four weeks from 9th September to 7th October, boards of assessors dealt with 26,360 cases. The following is an analysis of the board's recommendations:
§ (1) Genuinely seeking work condition.
| Number of reports received from boards of assessors | 16,528 |
| Reports favourable to claimant | 8,769 |
| Reports unfavourable to claimant | 7,637 |
| Assessors disagreed | 122 |
§ (2) Transitional conditions (b) and (c).
| Number of reports received from boards of assessors | 9,832 |
| Reports favourable to claimant | 6,096 |
| Reports unfavourable to claimant | 3,664 |
| Assessors disagreed | 72 |
§ 14. Mr. ALFRED SMITHasked the Minister of Labour how many assessors constitute the Board; and whether it is competent for a single assessor to give a decision?
§ Miss BONDFIELDA Board of Assessors consists of two persons representing employers and insured contributors respectively. A case may be dealt with in the absence of one of the members if the claimant consents.