§ 1. Mr. TINKERasked the Minister of Labour how many persons there are at present who come within the provisions of the unemployment insurance scheme; and what the number would be if all wage-earners receiving less than £250 a year were included?
§ The MINISTER of LABOUR (Miss Bondfield)It is estimated that at 1st July, 1930, the latest date for which figures are available, there were approximately 12,138,000 persons insured under the Unemployment Insurance Acts in Great Britain. Precise figures are not available with regard to the total number of persons in Great Britain receiving wages or salaries of less than £250 a year, but on such information as is available it may be estimated that if all such workers were included, the number insured would be approximately 17,000,000. This figure would include employed persons of both sexes under 16 and over 65 years of age who are now outside the scheme.
§ Mr. TINKERIs any scheme under consideration to make unemployment insurance more comprehensive so as to include all salaried workers?
§ Miss BONDFIELDThat has been under the consideration of the Royal Commission.
§ Mr. ERNEST BROWNDo the figures include such excepted workers as railway workers?
§ Miss BONDFIELDIt includes all salaried persons so far as we are aware.
§ Mr. McSHANEIs "wage-earner" distinct from "salary-earner"?
§ Miss BONDFIELDThe figures include any person receiving wages or salaries, as far as we are able to tell.
§ 3. Sir ARTHUR STEEL-MAITLANDasked the Minister of Labour the approximate number of persons in each of the classes of anomalies mentioned in the interim report of the Royal Commission on Unemployment?
§ Miss BONDFIELDI regret that the data available do not enable me to give the number of individuals that would be concerned.
15. Miss LEEasked the Minister of Labour when it is proposed to deal with the case of workers who, at 65 years of age, cease to be eligible for unemployment insurance and who, if their wives are not yet 65 years, have their income reduced from 24s. to 10s.?
§ Miss BONDFIELDI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Lincoln (Mr. R. A. Taylor) on 11th June, of which I am sending her a copy.
Miss LEECan the right hon. Lady tell us when we can get the further information such as was given to the hon. Member, as some of us are very anxious to have it?
§ Miss BONDFIELDI am sorry that I cannot add anything to the answer I have given.
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDDoes the Minister consider that Unemployment benefit can be regarded as an income for workers under 65 years of age?
§ Mr. R. A. TAYLORWas it not Conservative legislation that robbed these people of their unemployment benefits?