§ 6 and 7. Mr. WHITEasked the Minister of Labour (1) if she can state, as on any recent convenient date, the number of married and single women, respectively, who have made application for benefit under the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1930, who had previously been disallowed under the statutory conditions in operation before the passage of that Act, and the results of such applications;
(2) if she can state, as on the last convenient date, the number of claims to benefit submitted under the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1930, by applicants who had previously been disallowed on the ground that they were not genuinely seeking work or had not had a reasonable period of employment, the number of those claims which have been allowed, and the number disallowed on the ground that the applicants are not normally occupied in insurable employment?
§ Miss BONDFIELDI regret that separate figures giving the information desired are not available.
§ 21. Mr. ALPASSasked the Minister of Labour whether her attention has been called to the fact that a number of men employed at the Avonmouth Docks, Bristol, who registered as unemployed on Tuesday, 10th instant, have had their claim for unemployment benefit disputed by the local official; whether she is aware that a statement was made by the employers' representative that the claims were genuine; and what action she proposes to take to ensure that benefit will be paid to the men at an early date?
§ Miss BONDFIELDIn this case there was a trade dispute, and it was necessary for the claims of the men concerned to be referred to the headquarters insurance officer for a decision as to the date when they would become eligible for benefit. I am informed that a decision was given on 17th June to the effect that the disqualification on account of the trade dispute did not extend beyond the 6th and 7th June.
§ Mr. ALPASSWill the right hon. Lady have a communication sent there, so that the men shall know that their claim will be admitted this week?
§ Miss BONDFIELDThat has already been sent.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODWill the right hon. Lady do what she can to speed up the cases which are referred from a court of referees to the Umpire? I have several cases that have been waiting for three months for a decision.
§ Miss BONDFIELDI will do my best. I have made further appointments of umpires in view of the surge of work due to the new legislation coming into operation.