§ 10. Mr. FREEMANasked the Minister of Labour whether her attention has been called to the case of Mr. J. Williams, Upper House, Llyswen, near Brecon, who has been refused unemployment benefit since 25th February, 1931, on account of his having at that date reached the age of 65 and thus become eligible for an old age pension; and, seeing that this man's 1340 application for an old age pension has been refused on account of his being in a non-insurable occupation, whether she will arrange for his case to be reviewed to enable him to claim unemployment benefit from the date it was stopped?
§ Miss BONDFIELDThe right to unemployment benefit ceases when a person attains the age of 65. I have no power to authorise the payment of benefit to persons beyond the age limit.
§ Mr. FREEMANIs the Minister of Labour aware that this means hardship to a person who has been drawing unemployment pay up to the age of 65, and is then denied it without any opportunity of obtaining an old age pension?
§ Miss BONDFIELDThat may be so, but it is not a matter for my Department.
§ Mr. FREEMANWill the right hon. Lady consider the desirability of taking powers to get rid of this anomaly?
§ Miss BONDFIELDNo, Sir; I do not think the Unemployment Fund should be treated as an Old Age Pension Fund.