§ 8. Mr. GRAHAM WHITEasked the Minister of Labour the number of claims disallowed at the Birkenhead Employment Exchange on the ground that applicants were not normally in insurable employment in the following periods: 1st January to 1st June, 1927, 1st January to 1st June, 1928, 1st January to 1st June, 1929, and 1st January to 1st June, 1930?
§ Miss BONDFIELDAs the reply includes a number of figures, I will circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ 9. Mr. SIMMONSasked the Minister of Labour the number of applicants refused benefit, on the ground of not normally in insurable employment, at the Lench Street and Beacon Hill Exchanges in Birmingham during the first three weeks in June, 1930?
§ Miss BONDFIELDFigures are available only in respect of cases dealt with by particular courts of referees. From 13th May to 9th June, 1930 (the latest period for which figures are available), the number of claims for benefit disallowed on the ground "not normally in insurable employment and will not seek to obtain a livelihood by means of insurable employment" were 455 by the Birmingham Court, which includes Lench Street and Coleshill, and 153 by the Aston Court, which includes Beacon Hill and Sutton Coldfield.
§ Mr. SIMMONSDoes the Minister not think that this lends colour to the suggestion that "not genuinely seeking work" has now been superseded by the new term?
§ Miss BONDFIELDNo, I really cannot accept that view.
§ Mr. HANNONIs not the administration at the Lench Street and Beacon Hill Exchanges in Birmingham very efficient indeed, and is not every care taken to see that the rules are observed?
§ Mr. KIRKWOODThe right hon. Lady said that she was not aware that it has worked out in this way—well, that is what the men who are unemployed think.
§ 10. Mr. SIMMONSasked the Minister of Labour the number of cases heard by the Birmingham Court of Referees for the first three weeks in June, 1930; and the percentage of rejections during that period?
§ Miss BONDFIELDDuring the four weeks 13th May to 9th June, 1930, the latest period for which figures are available, 960 cases were considered by the Birmingham Court of Referees, of which 762 or 79.4 per cent. were disallowed. It 593 should be noted that, apart from trade dispute cases, Courts of Referees deal only with claims which are not allowed in the first instance.
§ 14. Mr. SORENSENasked the Minister of Labour the number of applicants in England and in Leyton, respectively, who have been considered not normally in insurable occupations?
§ Miss BONDFIELDDuring the period 13th March to 9th June, 1930, the number of claims to benefit disallowed by Courts of Referees on the ground "not normally insurable and will not seek to obtain a livelihood by means of insurable employment" were 50,300 in England and 104 in the area of the Leyton and Walthamstow Court of Referees.
§ Mr. SORENSENDoes not the right hon. Lady consider that that indicates that there still is a good deal of administrative persecution taking place?
§ Miss BONDFIELDNo, Sir, I do not.
§ Captain CROOKSHANKWill the right hon. Lady say when it stopped?
§ 19. Mr. BECKETTasked the Minister of Labour the number of claims for benefit that were refused at the Camberwell Employment Exchange in June, 1929 and 1930, respectively?
§ Miss BONDFIELDDuring the four weeks ended 10th June, 1929, the total number of claims to benefit made at the Camberwell Employment Exchange which were disallowed by insurance officers or recommended for disallowance by the Court of Referees on 78 day review was 343. During the four weeks ended 9th June, 1930, the number of claims disallowed by the Camberwell Court of Referees was 144; there were no disallowances by insurance officers.
§ 20. Mr. BECKETTasked the Minister of Labour the number of persons refused benefit in June, 1929 and 1930, respectively?
§ Miss BONDFIELDDuring the four weeks ended 10th June, 1929, the total number of claims to benefit disallowed by insurance officers or recommended for disallowance by Courts of Referees on 78 day review in Great Britain was 50,290. During the four weeks ended 9th June, 1930, the number of claims disallowed by 594 Courts of Referees was 40,311; in addition 4,076 claims were disallowed by insurance officers in trade dispute cases.