§ 1. Mr. BUCHANANasked the Minister of Labour the total number of persons who had their cases reviewed under the regulations issued on 2nd October arising from the Unemployment Insurance (No. 3) Act, 1931, in the City of Glasgow, and the total refused?
§ The MINISTER of LABOUR (Sir Henry Betterton)The procedure is to review all cases apparently affected by the Anomalies Regulations, and to refer to courts of referees those in which doubt arises as to the validity of the claim for benefit. The only figures available are those for the number of cases dealt with by the courts. Up to 6th November, the Glasgow Courts had considered 5,285 cases, out of which 4,329 were disallowed.
§ Mr. BUCHANANAre any steps taken in these cases to see that the decisions are uniform; that is to say, to see that there is no differentiation between person and person, but that the decisions have some kind of uniformity?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONI have no doubt at all that every care is taken to secure that the decisions of the courts of referees are uniform.
§ Mr. BUCHANANIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the courts are not dealing with each case on its merits, but that, having decided one case, they make that the subject of decision in large numbers of other cases?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONI had that point in mind, but I am informed that in these cases no decision is taken in the manner suggested unless there is a decision of the court directly covering the ease.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSAre these 4,300 cases included among the numbers unemployed?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat question does not arise.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODSeeing that the right hon. Gentleman states that over 4,000 people have been cut off in Glasgow under these regulations, is not that an indication that this is the reason for the reduction in the unemployment figures, and that there is no reduction in unemployment at all, but that people are simply being cut off in this fashion?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONI do not think that that is a fair deduction, because, as the hon. Member knows, the figures are the figures of those registering for work, not the numbers of those who get benefit.
§ 2. Mr. BUCHANANasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that at the Glasgow Employment Exchanges women 243 were asked to call at 11 a.m. in the day for interview; that over two hours afterwards no interview had taken place; that some of the women were asked to call again at 4 p.m. on the same day; that they then had to wait a considerable time; if he can state the reason why such a large number of interviews were fixed for each day; and if the practice is to continue?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONA large number of women had to be interviewed, because of the operation of the Anomalies Regulations, but I have no reason to think that they were put to any such inconvenience as is suggested in the question. In consequence of representations from the hon. Member, I had made special inquiries with regard to the South Side Exchange, and here I am informed that the arrangements made were such as to ensure that no woman had to wait for more than half-an-hour after the time at which she was asked to attend. One-woman who attended in the morning was asked to come again at 4 p.m., but that was because she had to leave in order to prepare her husband's dinner, before her turn came. I may add that she actually attended at 3 p.m.
§ Mr. BUCHANANWill the right hon. Gentleman make inquiries again, as the reason he has given is not correct, and the woman in question did not leave merely to prepare her dinner? In view of the facts which I have stated definitely—and my word is at least as good as that of the manager of the Exchange— will he kindly make further inquiries as to the truth of the statements contained in my question; and will he, before he makes statements about people going home to prepare their dinner, see that such statements are true?
§ 7. Mr. McGOVERNasked the Minister of Labour how many men and women have been summoned before the courts of referees, under the Anomalies Bill, at Parkhead Employment Exchange; and how many have been refused benefit up to 10th November, 1931?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONUp to 6th November, 1931, the latest date for which figures are available, the Parkhead Court of Referees had considered 656 244 Women's cases under the Anomalies Regulations, of which 500 were disallowed benefit. No men's cases had been considered by the court up to 6th November.
§ Mr. McGOVERNCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether there is any opportunity for putting specific cases from various grades to the Umpire?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONI have no power with regard to that matter. Whether there is an appeal from the court of referees depends on the Act of Parliament.
§ Mr. MAXTONArising out of the original answer, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he calculates that, at that rate of refusal, the economies hoped for from this Measure will be achieved?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONI have made no calculation on that point.
§ Mr. KIRKW00DMay I point out that there was a calculation in the White Paper—a sum of £3,000,000—
§ Mr. SPEAKERThere is nothing about such calculations in this question.
§ Mr. MAXTONThis Measure was an economy Measure; this Government is an economy Government; and we want to know if the economy devices are achieving the results expected.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is a different question altogether.