§ 18. Mr. R. A. TAYLORasked the Minister of Labour whether all umpire's decisions are circulated to members of local courts of referees; and, if not, whether she will take steps to secure that in future the lay members of the courts of referees are placed in possession of the same information as is received by the chairmen?
§ Mr. LAWSONA copy of the analytical guide to the umpire's decisions and of all the important decisions given by the umpire since April, 1928, is placed before each of the assessors at every sitting of the court of referees.
§ Mr. TAYLORMay I ask whether an ordinary member of the court is entitled to take such documents away in order to study them and to make himself familiar with the evidence?
§ Mr. LAWSONNo. The intention of the Ministry is that they shall be there at the court at the disposal of members when they attend.
§ 19. Mr. TAYLORasked the Minister of Labour what are the appropriate umpire's decisions in which it has been decided that a general presumption arises that a man who has done no insurable work for five years may be regarded as not normally insurable?
§ Mr. LAWSONThe umpire's decision which presumably my hon. Friend has in 1123 mind is No. 3367/1930. My right hon. Friend is sending him a copy of this decision with her reply to a letter on the same subject which the hon. Member wrote to her on the 23rd January.
§ Mr. TAYLORIs my hon. Friend aware that this particular umpire's decision lays down a strong presumption that where a man with a good record of insurable employment in a depressed area has been out of work for a long time he is entitled to benefit, and is the hon. Gentleman aware that at many Exchanges this part of the umpire's decision is absolutely ignored? Will he inquire into the matter if I place information before him?
§ Mr. LAWSONI shall be pleased to receive any information and make inquiries.