§ 2. Mr. TRAINasked the Minister of Labour how many married women in Glasgow have been put out of benefit through the operation of the Unemployment Insurance (Anomalies) Act?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONUp to 9th November, 1931, courts of referees in the Glasgow area had considered the claims of 5,406 married women under the Anomalies Regulations, and had disallowed benefit in 4,434 cases.
§ Mr. TRAINIs my right hon. Friend satisfied that there is no hardship in the 4,000 cases referred to?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONThat is a matter for the court of referees. All these oases go before the court and the referees are the judges.
§ Mr. BUCHANANCan the Minister say why the number of cases examined in Burnley was only 42, whereas 4,000 were examined in Glasgow?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONNo doubt the court of referees took into consideration the circumstances prevailing at Burnley, which accounted for the difference.
§ Mr. BUCHANANIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that many of these cases were never put before the court of referees, and only 42 were put?
| Cases considered under the Anomalies Regulations by Courts of Referees in the Glasgow area up to 9th November, 1931. | ||||||||
| Court of Referees. | Class of person (Section 1 (2), Unemployment Insurance (No. 3) Act, 1931). | |||||||
| Men. | Women. | |||||||
| (b) | (b) | (d) | (c) | |||||
| Seasonal workers | Seasonal workers. | Married women. | Persons normally working for part only of the week | |||||
| Total considered. | Cases disallowed. | Total considered. | Cases disallowed. | Total considered. | Cases disallowed. | Total considered. | Cases disallowed. | |
| Glasgow Central | — | — | 34 | 28 | 515 | 332 | 1 | — |
| Glasgow South Side* | 20 | 16 | 19 | 15 | 1,138 | 1,066 | — | — |
| Bridgeton | — | — | — | — | 1,053 | 878 | — | — |
| Finnieston | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 160 | 120 | — | — |
| Govan | — | — | 19 | 11 | 309 | 240 | — | — |
| Kinning Park | — | — | 1 | 1 | 312 | 252 | — | — |
| Marybill | 30 | 14 | 44 | 38 | 444 | 393 | — | — |
| Parkhead | — | — | 15 | 13 | 646 | 495 | — | — |
| Partick | — | — | 13 | 8 | 323 | 268 | — | — |
| Springburn† | — | — | 41 | 19 | 527 | 409 | — | — |
| Total | 56 | 36 | 190 | 137 | 5,427 | 4,453 | 1 | — |
| There were no cases under class (a). In some cases the figures given in the earlier replies have been revised. | ||||||||
| * Including cases referred from the Rutherglen and Cambuslang Employment Exchanges. | ||||||||
| † Including cases referred from the Kirkintilloch Employment Exchange. |
23. Lieut.-Colonel Sir FREDERICK HALLasked the Minister of Labour how many cases of applications for unemployment benefit have up to the present been examined and rejected under the Anomalies Act; and if he will arrange for a White Paper to be issued from time to time dealing with abuses which have been found to be prevalent, so that the public
§ Sir H. BETTERTONEvery case comes before the court of referees. If an individual case is not put before the court it is because of similar cases where the facts are the same, and they are held to be binding.
§ 19. Mr. BUCHANANasked the Minister of Labour the total number of persons refused benefit in each category since the coming into effect of the regulations arising from the Act dealing with anomalies in each Exchange in the Glasgow area?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONAs the reply includes a table of figures, I will, if I may, circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the statement:
§ may be informed of the need which existed for the overhaul of the old system of granting relief without inquiry?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONThe latest available figures of cases dealt with under the Anomalies Regulations were given an reply to a question asked by the hon. Member for Gorbals (Mr. Buchanan) on, 19th November. As regards the second 477 part of the question, if I find that abuses exist which cannot be removed by administrative action, I shall not hesitate to bring them before the House with proposals for a remedy.