§ 15. Mr. R. A. TAYLORasked the Minister of Labour how many claims for transitional benefit have been made by applicants in the Lincoln Exchange area since the 1st January last; how many have been granted benefit; and how many have been refused benefit by the Court of Referees?
§ Miss BONDFIELDSparate statistics are not available regarding the total number of claims for transitional benefit made nor for the number of such claims that have been allowed. During the period 13th March, 1930, to 12th January, 1931 the Court of Referees at Lincoln disallowed 379 claims on the ground that the transitional conditions had not been fulfilled. This Court deals with claims to benefit made at the Lincoln, Market Rasen, Gainsborough and Misterton Employment Exchanges.
§ Mr. TAYLORIs the right hon. Lady aware that during the last three or four weeks a considerable number of men have been automatically turned down by 335 the umpire's decision and would she kindly order a rehearing of those cases which have not been taken into proper consideration?
§ Miss BONDFIELDI cannot order a rehearing, but I will examine these cases.
§ Mr. TAYLORIs it not within the power of the right hon. Lady to instruct the Court of Referees to review their decision?
§ Miss BONDFIELDNo. I have no power to instruct a Court of Referees, but I can direct attention to the umpire's decision.
§ Mr. TAYLORrose—
§ Mr. SPEAKERI think the right hon. Lady has already replied to the hon. Member's question.
§ Mr. TAYLORMay I just ask, with your permission, Mr. Speaker, the right hon. Lady—
§ Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGErose—
§ Mr. SPEAKERMr. Taylor.
§ Mr. TAYLORMay I ask the right hon. Lady whether in the cases where the umpire's decision has not been taken into proper consideration she has any power to ask the court of referees to review their decision?
§ Miss BONDFIELDI can direct the attention of the court to such cases, but I cannot instruct them.
§ Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGEAs the right hon. Lady has mentioned Market Rasen which is in my constituency, may I ask her to do full justice to those in that town?
§ 19. Mr. TAYLORasked the Minister of Labour whether contributions paid in respect of full-time employment on relief-work schemes are treated as periods of insurable employment when determining applicants' claims for benefit?
§ Miss BONDFIELDSuch contributions, if properly payable, are counted, like any other contributions, towards making up the necessary contribution qualification. My hon. Friend, perhaps, means to ask how such work is regarded 336 when the question to be decided is whether a claimant for transitional benefit is normally employed in insurable work. The answer to this can only be given by the statutory authorities, who will take all the circumstances of each case into consideration.
§ Mr. TAYLORWill my right hon. Friend, in view of her answer, communicate to the courts of referees the appropriate law on this matter, because applicants have been informed that relief work stamps are not taken into consideration in determining their claims to benefit?
§ Miss BONDFIELDI think that when my hon. Friend reads my answer he will see that it meets the point.
§ 20. Mr. TAYLORasked the Minister of Labour what instructions have been issued by her Department with regard to Insurance Officers bringing before the courts of referees all claims for benefit where the applicant has done no insurable work, other than work on relief schemes, for five years or longer?
§ Miss BONDFIELDNo instructions are issued by the Department to Insurance Officers with regard to the cases which they should bring before courts of referees. The umpire has laid it down that, where a claimant has had no insurable employment for the last five years, a presumption arises—which may be rebutted in certain circumstances—that he has ceased to be normally employed in insurable employment, and Insurance Officers are bound to have regard to this ruling of the umpire in deciding what cases they will refer to the court.
§ Mr. TAYLORMay I take it that the right hon. Lady has not sanctioned the issue of any instructions for a special review other than the review in accordance with the umpire's decision and the quarterly review?
§ Miss BONDFIELDYes.
§ 21. Mr. G. MACDONALDasked the Minister of Labour the number of claimants for unemployment benefits who have had their claims disallowed by the court of referees sitting at St. Helens, Lancashire, and also the court of referees sitting at Wigan, between 13th March, 1930, and the latest date on which figures 337 are available, specifying the number disallowed on the grounds of not satisfying the transitional condition (b)?
§ Miss BONDFIELDDuring the period 13th March, 1930, to 12th January, 1931, 2,542 claims to benefit were disallowed by the St. Helen's court of referees, including 1,263 disallowed on the ground that transitional condition (b) was not satisfied. In the same period 4,414 claims were disallowed by the Wigan court, including 2,600 disallowed on the ground that transitional condition (b) was not satisfied.
§ Mr. MACDONALDWill the Minister make inquiry into the causes of so large a number being disqualified in so short a time?
§ Miss BONDFIELDYes.