§ 15. Mr. THORNEasked the Minister of Labour whether instructions have been issued to the Exchanges to discontinue unemployment benefit on the first payday after 1st October to those persons who have drawn 26 weeks' benefit; and, if so, if he can state approximately the number of men and women who will cease to draw benefit?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONNo instructions have yet been issued. The numbers likely to be affected were given in the reply of 2ist September to the hon. Member for Chester-le-Street (Mr. Lawson). Those affected will be entitled to claim transitional payments, and during the interval of time that will necessarily elapse before the case of an individual claimant can be examined payments will be continued at the revised standard rates, subject to the usual conditions as to proof of unemployment and otherwise.
§ Mr. THORNEIs the House to understand that, if a man has received 26 weeks' benefit he has to attend and prove whether he is entitled to further benefit?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONHe will then come before the public assistance committee for the assessment of his means.
§ Mr. GEORGE HARDIEIs that answer in accord with the statement made by the Prime Minister, that the whole of the applications and the whole atmosphere will be that of the Employment Exchange and not an investigation under the Poor Law?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONI am not sure that I have in mind precisely the passage to which the hon. Member refers, but, if there is any further information that he wants, perhaps he will put down another question.
§ Mr. HARDIEIs the Minister of Labour not aware that it is recorded in the OFFICIAL REPORT that that statement has been made with regard to this change of the law?
§ 18. Mr. EGANasked the Minister of Labour what instructions, if any, have been issued to public assistance committees for guidance in dealing with cases referred to such committees by labour Employment Exchanges under the new means test?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONwould refer the lion. Member to the reply given on the 22nd September in answer to the hon. Member for Lincoln (Mr. R. A. Taylor).
Mr. T. GRJFFITHSIn the case of unemployed men who have built houses of their own and come before the public assistance committee, will that be taken into consideration before they get any relief?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONThe regulations, as I have said, are under consideration and will be laid before Parliament in due course.
§ Mr. T. SMITHWill disability pensions be taken into account by the public assistance committee, and is the Minister aware of the dissatisfaction existing in some branches of the British Legion on this matter?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONThere is another question on the Order Paper dealing with that very point.