§ 3. Mr. TINKERasked the Minister of Labour what is the average weekly amount of unemployment benefit paid to 1,000,000 unemployed persons and their dependants?
§ Miss BONDFIELDThe average weekly amount of unemployment benefit paid to 1,000,000 unemployed persons claiming benefit and their dependants was during the year 1929 about £790,000.
§ 8. Major the Marquess of TITCHFIELDasked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the fact that, while no unemployment benefit is payable in respect of authorised holidays, signatures given on or for these days count for linking up in order to qualify a man for unemployment benefit if he is unemployed for two other days in any six working days, that signatures given retrospectively are only allowed when the Employment Exchange has been closed upon that authorised holiday, and that therefore when the Exchanges are open men are required to attend at the Exchanges in order to sign upon that holiday, she will issue instructions to the Exchanges authorising them to allow men to sign retrospectively in respect of authorised holidays in cases where such a signature will be of benefit to them even when the Exchanges were open on the said authorised holiday?
§ Miss BONDFIELDClaimants who are suspended from work or are working short time, and have not been definitely discharged from their employment, can count days of recognised customary holidays for continuity purposes only if they prove unemployment for such days in the normal way. I do not think it is reasonable to ask that signature of the register should be excused on days when the Exchanges and branch employment offices are open for the purpose of signature. Provision is, of course, made for excuse of signature oh good cause being shown.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODI should like to ask the right hon. Lady whether she does not consider it is right that the unemployed should receive pay for holidays just as well as Members of Parliament
Marquess of TITCHFIELDDoes not the Minister of Labour realise that there is no difficulty about this? If they can sign back on some days in the year, there is no reason why they should not be able to sign back on others. In Nottingham it will only amount to four or five days—
§ Miss BONDFIELDThis matter is settled by Statute.