HC Deb 14 November 1932 vol 270 cc744-5
59. Mr. RHYS DAVIES (for Mr. HEALY)

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that unemployed insured persons temporarily moving from Great Britain into Northern Ireland are being refused unemployment benefits on the plea that they are not available for work; if he has had any communication with, the Northern Ireland Government upon the matter; and whether benefit is being paid here to insured persons temporarily moving from Northern Ireland into Great Britain in similar circumstances?

Mr. HUDSON

The matter has not been brought to my right hon. Friend's notice, and the answer to the second part of the question is in the negative. There is an arrangement for reciprocity on unemployment insurance matters between Great Britain and Northern Ireland and claims for benefit may be made by insured contributors moving from Great Britain into Northern Ireland and vice versa subject to the usual conditions, including that of availability for work. The question whether the conditions are satisfied in any particular case is decided by the statutory authorities of the country in which the claimant is resident at the time.

Mr. BUCHANAN

Is the hon. Member not aware that in Northern Ireland the decisions of the Umpire, to some extent, conflict with the decisions of the Umpire in this country, and that when men come here they are governed by the decisions in Northern Ireland; and will he take steps in cases like that to have them reviewed here in order that the decisions which the Umpire has given here may apply to such men?

Mr. HUDSON

As the hon. Member knows, the Umpire is an independent statutory authority over whom my right hon. Friend has no control.

Mr. BUCHANAN

That is not the point. My point is that it is the duty of the Minister to see that the decisions are uniform, and will he take steps to see that the Umpire's decisions in this country apply when a man is working or looking for work here, and not the decisions of the Umpire in Northern Ireland?

Mr. HUDSON

Perhaps my hon. Friend will be kind enough to give me a case of what he regards as a discrepancy?