HC Deb 01 October 1931 vol 257 cc514-5
30. Mr. R. A. TAYLOR

asked the Minister of Labour whether the new regulations for the guidance of public assistance committees in the administration of unemployment insurance transitional benefit under the National Economy Bill have been completed; and on what date they are to be laid before Parliament?

36. Mr. LAWSON

asked the Minister of Labour if he will make the new regulations issued to the public assistance committees available to Members of the House?

Sir H. BETTERTON

These regulations cannot be made until the relevant Order-in-Council has been made. The regulations will be laid before Parliament as soon as possible thereafter.

Mr. TAYLOR

Will these regulations contain an instruction for uniformity of administration in connection with transitional benefit?

Sir H. BETTERTON

The hon. Member had better wait and see the regulations.

Mr. TAYLOR

No. I want to know whether it is the policy of the Government to promote uniformity in administration?

Sir H. BETTERTON

If the hon. Member means whether we are going to ask public assistance committees to have some uniform scale the answer is in the negative.

Mr. TAYLOR

No. A considerable number of Poor Law authorities, about half of them, do not grant relief to able-bodied unemployed men, and I want to ask the hon. Gentleman whether he will see that the position of these men is protected in the regulations?

Sir H. BETTERTON

I have told the hon. Member that there will be no difference in policy in this matter from that contained in the circular issued by the late Minister of Health. If the hon. Member will read that circular and has then any further questions to ask, perhaps he will put them down.

Mr. LAWSON

Does the right hon. Gentleman contemplate laying these regulations while Parliament is sitting?

Sir H. BETTERTON

In regard to that matter, the hon. Member for Chester-le-Street (Mr. Lawson), and the hon. Member for Lincoln (Mr. R. A. Taylor) the night before last raised what I thought were very important questions which would have to be considered. We are considering the points raised, and, until they have been considered, obviously we cannot lay the regulations.