HC Deb 18 February 1932 vol 261 cc1790-2
1. Sir ASSHETON POWNALL

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state what is at present the balancing point of the Unemployment Insurance Fund?

The MINISTER of LABOUR (Sir Henry Betterton)

In order to make this point quite clear, I have prepared a somewhat long reply, which, with my hon. Friend's permission, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. T. WILLIAMS

Will the answer give the figures for the first 26 weeks' benefit?

Sir H. BETTERTON

I think that the hon. Member had better look at the answer. It is a very complete answer.

12. Mr. HALL-CAINE

asked the Minister of Labour by what amount approximately the indebtedness of the Unemployment Fund is increasing per week at the present time?

Sir H. BETTERTON

The average weekly increase in the debt of the Unemployment Fund during the six weeks ended 13th February, 1932, was £271,666

Following is the reply:

As expenditure on transitional payments, whatever its amount, is covered by an equivalent grant from the Exchequer, it is only with regard to the Insurance Account of the fund that the question of balancing arises. The income of the Insurance Account will suffice at present to meet the claims of about 1,200,000 insurance claimants. To obtain the corresponding total register it would be necessary to add the applicants for transitional payments and the persons who are claiming neither insurance benefit nor transitional payments; there are at present no sufficient data for estimating what the numbers in these two groups would be likely to be on the assumption that the number of claimants for insurance benefit is 1,200,000. I may mention that at present the register consists of about 1,500,000 claimants for insurance benefit, 900,000 applicants for

Number of cases disallowed by certain Courts of Referees during the period 10th November, 1931, to 30th January, 1932.
Ground of disallowance. Court of Referees.
Barnsley. Castleford. Doncaster.* Goole. Pontefract.
First Statutory Condition (Juveniles only) 13 11 >6 — 9
Less than eight contributions paid in past two years and less than 30 contributions paid at any time. — 2 2 1 —
Not normally insurable and/or will not normally seek to obtain livelihood by means of insurable employment 158 73 142 25 47
Anomalies Regulations:—
Class (b)—Seasonal workers 24 25 23 6 7
Class (d)—Married women 121 56 59 4 21
Class (c)—Persons who normally or habitually work for not more than two days in the week. 4 3 8 1 —
Employment left voluntarily without just cause 60 35 59 12 14
Employment lost through misconduct 43 29 58 11 7
Failure or refusal to apply for or accept suitable employment, or failure to carry out written directions. 44 22 46 18 10
Not unemployed 32 27 70 3 7
Not capable of work, or not available for work 40 51 62 2 7
Other grounds 41 86 77 10 16
Total 580 420 612 93 145
* There is no Local Office or Court of Referees at Hemsworth, which is within the area of the Doncaster Court of Referees.
These figures may include a certain number of persons who were applying for transitional payments but separate figures for this dais are not available.
11. Mr. CROSS

asked the Minister of of Labour whether he is aware that in cases of married women who have been disallowed benefit under Section 4 (ii) of the Unemployment Insurance (Anomalies) Regulations, 1931, but who have subsequently fulfilled this requirement,

transitional payments and 300,000 non-claimants.