§ 15. Mr. D. GRENFELLasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that unemployed persons are being subjected to the deduction of a day's unemployment benefit when they have been admitted for a night into a casual ward; and if he will take steps to put an end to this?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONBy Section 8 (3) of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1920, an insured contributor is disqualified for the receipt of unemployment benefit while he is an inmate of any institution supported out of public funds. I am sending the hon. Member copies of certain decisions given by the Umpire upon the point raised in his question.
§ Mr. GRENFELLIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that men who are starting in search of work owing to the shortage of accommodation are sometimes compelled to stay just one night in the casual ward and are therefore penalised in the way stated in the question?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONNo, I am not aware of that fact, but in any case the hon. Member knows that all questions arising under the Act of 1920 come up before the Umpire, whose decisions are binding on me. Perhaps my hon. Friend wall look at the Umpire's decisions and see if there is any point that he requires to ask me about further.