HC Deb 23 February 1933 vol 274 cc1877-80
9. Mr. TINKER

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that persons whose compensation is suspended under the Workmen's Compensation Act pending the decision of the medical referee are not allowed to sign on at the Employment Exchange, and if the decision of the medical referee is against them they are ruled out of unemployment benefit from the time of suspension until the decision of the medical referee; and will he consider taking steps to meet this situation?

Sir H. BETTERTON

Such persons are not prevented from signing the register by any rule of the Department, but in order to claim benefit they would have to sign a declaration that they are capable of and available for work at a time when they are contending for the purposes of workmen's compensation that they are not capable of work. It has been decided by the Umpire that a person who is contending that he is not capable of work cannot be available for work and is therefore not qualified for benefit.

Mr. TINKER

Does not the Minister see the difficulty in which an applicant is placed? First of all, he thinks that he is not fit for work, and then the medical referee declares him to be fit for work, and that causes the difficulty. Will the right hon. Gentleman, when he brings in legislation, consider this point, so that applicants can get over the difficulty?

Sir H. BETTERTON

Yes, I will consider it, but the hon. Gentleman forgets that he is contending that a man is not capable of work because he is under a disability. If he is making that contention on the one hand, it is almost impossible, I should think, to make the submission that he is fit for work.

Mr. TINKER

The medical referee says that he is.

Mr. CAPORN

Is not the Minister aware that there are many cases in which a man is contending that he is not fit for full work but is fit for light work, and the question arising on arbitration is: If he is able to get light work, cannot he enter himself at the Employment Exchange as fit for light work, or is he not to be allowed to do so?

Sir H. BETTERTON

I should like to see the question on the Paper dealing with the facts which the hon. Member has set out.

Mr. BUCHANAN

If a man were to sign on at the Employment Exchange during the period that he was awaiting the report of the chief medical officer, who decided that he was fit for work, would not that fact entitle the man to benefit?

Sir H. BETTERTON

I should think, off hand, that that would be a case for proper consideration by the court of referees.

10. Mr. PRICE

asked the Minister of Labour how many cases of transitional payments have been dealt with by the public assistance committee in the county borough of Barnsley from the committee's inauguration to 31st October, 1932; in how many cases have full benefits been allowed; how many cases partial benefit;

Determinations by the Public Assistance Committee for the County Borough of Barnsley on applications for transitional payments between 12th November, 1931, and 5th November, 1932.
Period. Total number of applications. Payment allowed at maximum benefit rates. Payment allowed at lower rates. Needs of applicants held not to justify payment.
12th November, 1931–23rd January, 1932.* 7,030 5,867 882 281
25th January, 1932–5th November, 1932:
Initial applications 2,665 2,117 329 219
Renewals and revisions 23,000 18,679 3,981 340
32,695 26,663 5,192 840
* The figures for this period include renewals and revisions as well as initial applications. Separate figures for initial applications are not available.
17. Mr. SMEDLEY CROOKE

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that some public assistance committees are deducting the whole of the weekly proportion (5s. 3d.) of the Army reservists' pay from the award made under the means test in transitional unemployment benefit; and will he issue instructions which will guide these committees to ignore entirely the pay of these reservists in arriving at the award to be made?

Sir H. BETTERTON

This is a matter within the discretion of authorities and I have no power to issue instructions to them on the subject.

21. Mr. BATEY

asked the Minister of Labour the number of applications received since 1st December, 1932, for transitional payments in the county of Durham; and the number of cases reduced and the number refused up to the latest available date?

Sir H. BETTERTON

Determinations were given by the Commissioners for the administrative county of Durham on 80,362 applications for transitional payments between 5th December, 1932, and 4th February, 1933. In 18,998 cases payment was allowed at rates lower than

and how many applicants have failed to sustain any claim?

Sir H. BETTERTON

As the reply includes a table of figures I will, if I may, circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the statement:

the maximum benefit rates, and in 5,124 cases the needs of applicants were held not to justify payment being made, the remaining 56,240 cases being allowed at full rates. These figures include renewals and revisions as well as initial applications.

Mr. McKEAG

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the burden upon the local rates has been intolerably increased by this state of things?

Sir H. BETTERTON

There are no particulars to enable me to say how far the hon. Member's question is correct.