HC Deb 20 February 1930 vol 235 cc1550-1
9. Mr. BUCHANAN

asked the Minister of Labour what instructions are being issued to the various officials of her Department as to the new procedure to be followed under the new Unemployment Insurance Act; what steps are being taken to let applicants for benefit know their rights and when to make a claim under the new Act; and on what date any new procedure will begin to operate?

Miss BONDFIELD

Instructions detailing the changes made by the new Act and the procedure to be adopted to bring them into operation are now being issued to the local officers of the Department. All applicants who are signing the register and whose claims were disallowed under the old provisions will be personally informed of the changes made by the new Act, and will be given an opportunity to make a new claim. Posters will also be exhibited calling attention to the revised conditions. The Act will come generally into force on 13th March. I had hoped to bring certain of the provisions into operation by 1st February or shortly afterwards, in accordance with the discretionary power given by Section 19. I regret, however, that this is not possible owing to the delay in passing the Act, which did not become law until 6th February.

Mr. BUCHANAN

While thanking the right hon. Lady for her answer, may I ask her if, in addition, she will see that all necessary new Regulations are posted prominently in the Exchanges?

Miss BONDFIELD

That is the intention.

Mr. HARRIS

Will the right hon. Lady send copies of the instructions to Members of the House, so that they can become familiar with them?

Miss BONDFIELD

I am afraid that hon. Members would find them pages and pages of very dull matter.

Mr. HARRIS

We should like to have that dull matter.

Sir ASSHETON POWNALL

Will the right hon. Lady put copies in the Library?

Miss BONDFIELD

I will do that.

Mr. BUCHANAN

If we make application to the right hon. Lady, cannot we have them?

Miss BONDFIELD

The simplest plan would be to put them in the Library, where anybody can see them.

Mr. DOUGLAS HACKING

If hon. Members would find it difficult to understand them, how can other people be expected to understand them?

Forward to