§ 9. Mr. LECKIEasked the Minister of Labour whether he can give figures showing how the amount of unemployment pay given in this country, together with the period for which it is given, compares with that paid by the Governments of France, Germany, Italy, the United States of America, the Dominion of Canada, South Africa, and the Commonwealth of Australia?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONParticulars of the systems of unemployment insurance in overseas countries and of unemployment relief in Australia and New Zealand were given in the Memoranda published last September as Part IV of the Appendices to the Minutes of Evidence given before the Royal Commission on Unemployment Insurance. The rates and periods vary so much that it is scarcely possible to make a summary comparison of the kind asked for. I should add that since those memoranda were prepared, the period during which ordinary benefit is paid in Germany has been reduced from 26 weeks to 20 and the period during which emergency benefit normally is paid has been increased from 32 to 38 weeks.