§ 1. Sir ASSHETON POWNALLasked the Minister of Labour how many married women are now drawing benefit; and what was the figure a year ago?
§ The MINISTER of LABOUR (Miss Bondfield)At 13th October, 1930, there were on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Great Britain 238,827 married women among 477,253 women claimants for benefit as compared with approximately 85,755 married women among 188,059 women claimants at 14th October, 1929. I regret that the numbers actually in receipt of benefit are not available.
§ Sir A. POWNALLCan the right hon. Lady account in any way for this extraordinary increase of some 200,000, more than threefold the men drawing benefit?
§ Miss BONDFIELDIt is mainly accounted for by the great depression in the textile and pottery trades, where predominantly married women are employed.
§ Sir A. POWNALLDoes not the right hon. Lady think that many women are drawing benefit who are not justified in doing so?
§ 6. Mr. GRAHAM WHITEasked the Minister of Labour if she proposes to make any modification in the conditions governing the payment of unemployment insurance benefit to married women?
§ Miss BONDFIELDI have not yet seen a form of amendment which I am satisfied would adequately meet the varying circumstances of different cases. In the absence of general agreement, I should 176 not be prepared to take action in advance of the thorough examination which the proposed Royal Commission will undertake.