§ 11. Sir A. POWNALLasked the Minister of Labour what administrative changes she proposes to introduce to mitigate hardships caused in the working of the Unemployment Insurance Acts by the words "not genuinely seeking work"?
§ Miss BONDFIELDThe hardships to which the hon. Member calls attention are in the main dependent on statute law and not on administration. Legislative changes are therefore necessary, and I intend to propose such changes at an early date. Meanwhile a procedure has been introduced for referring questions regarding the fulfilment of the "genuinely seeking work" condition to Local Boards of Assessors, so that the insurance officer may have the benefit of their advice before giving his decision.
§ Sir A. POWNALLCan the right hon. Lady say whether the Morris Committee found traces of administrative persecution, as was stated by the present Home Secretary in this House last April?
§ Miss BONDFIELDI would refer the hon. Member to the report.
§ Mr. ERNEST BROWNHas the right hon. Lady taken into consideration the growing concentration of official decisions at Kew, as compared with the divisions, whereby many delays take place and those having no knowledge of local conditions decide?
§ Mr. BECKETTIs the right hon. Lady aware that these hardships were greatly increased by administrative action in the last Government?
§ 25 and 26. Mr. GRAHAM WHITEasked the Minister of Labour (1) if her attention has been drawn to the delay in the rendering of decisions by the Umpire under the Unemployment Insurance Acts; and if she will take steps to expedite the work of this Department;
(2) if new regulations have been made for dealing with the cases of insured persons whose unemployment benefit has been disallowed pending inquiry into their entitlement to contributory pensions?
§ Miss BONDFIELDIn the case of these two questions, the notice given prior to this morning asked for a reply on 6th November, and I regret, therefore, that I am not in a position to reply now. I will, however, circulate replies as soon as possible in the OFFICIAL REPORT—unless the hon. Member prefers to put the questions down again.