HC Deb 02 July 1930 vol 240 cc1955-7
65. Mr. McGOVERN

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons registered at Parkhead Employment Exchange were admitted to benefit as a result of the abolition of the not-genuinely-seeking-work condition; and how many of these have since been refused benefit as not normally engaged in insurable employment?

Mr. LAWSON

I regret that statistics giving the information desired are not available.

Mr. McGOVERN

Can the hon. Gentleman say when the information will be available?

Mr. LAWSON

It is not possible to get this information explicitly, because the figures are naturally bound up with the ordinary registration figures.

Mr. BECKETT

Is it not the fact that we used to be able to get the number of those who were refused benefit on the ground that they were not genuinely seeking work; and why cannot we get the figures for the total number disqualified under the present arrangement?

Mr. LAWSON

This question is much more complicated than that.

Mr. STEPHEN

Is it not the case that all the Employment Exchanges have full lists of the names of individuals, and, in view of the importance of this matter, does not my hon. Friend think that some of the Exchanges should have these facts at hand?

Mr. LAWSON

I have made a very close inquiry into this matter, and I am sure that it is not possible to get these figures. Of course, an estimate could be made, but it could only be done in a very general way.

Mr. BUCHANAN

Could not the Parliamentary Secretary at least tell the hon. Member for Shettleston (Mr. McGovern) the number of those who have been refused benefit at the Parkhead Exchange since the passing of the new Act on the ground of not being normally in insurable employment?

Mr. LAWSON

That could not be done for the simple reason that what the hon. Member asks for is the number of those originally accepted under the new Act who have since been refused benefit. That is not possible.

Mr. McGOVERN

I suppose it is not desirable.

Mr. ERNEST BROWN

Is it not the case that, if this question cannot be answered simply because six months ago scarcely any were refused benefit on the ground of not being normally in insurable employment, all that the hon. Gentleman needs to do is to give the figure that he knows?

Mr. LAWSON

It is possible to get the number of those who were refused benefit under the Act generally, but it is not possible to get the number refused out of those who were accepted under the new Act.

Mr. BECKETT

Is it not the fact that this condition has been abused in exactly the same way as the old one?

Mr. LAWSON

No; that is not so.

Mr. McGOVERN

It is so.