§ 5. Mr. T. GRIFFITHSasked the Minister of Labour whether she will again consider the advisability of legislation to abolish the practice under which a worker's representative on a court of referees is disqualified from continuing to serve in this capacity in the event of becoming unemployed?
§ Miss BONDFIELDNo, Sir. I am not in favour of altering this practice.
§ Mr. GRIFFITHSIs the Minister aware that on account of a breakdown 590 of machinery in tinplate mills, steel works and collieries, men who are fully employed have to draw unemployment benefit, but on the particular week they draw benefit they are not allowed to sit on the court of referees?
§ Miss BONDFIELDThis is a point to which I have given very great thought indeed, and I am satisfied that in the interests of the unemployed insured person it would be a mistake to vary the present practice.
§ Mr. GRIFFITHSIs this not a great disadvantage to the unemployed, because the chairman is invariably a lawyer and does not understand anything about these particular trades?