§ 3. Mr. TINKERasked the Minister of Labour if his attention has been drawn 162 to the case of James Smith, of 175, Mossley Common Road, Boothstown who was in receipt of unemployment benefit for a period, afterwards got work again, and when he came to claim. unemployment benefit a second time was informed that the work he was engaged on was not insurable and that he could not have unemployment benefit or claim the right to go before the court of referees; and if he will cause inquiries to be made why Smith was allowed to have his card stamped if he cannot claim benefit?
§ The MINISTER of LABOUR(Sir Henry Betterton)I wrote to the hon. Member on 29th June explaining that in accordance with the interpretation laid down by decisions of the High Court this employment was not insurable under the Unemployment Insurance Acts. So far as I am aware, these contributions were paid without prior consultation with the Department and, as I informed the hon. Member, a refund of their value may be claimed. If a claim for benefit was made it should, of course, have been referred to a court of referees and I am inquiring further with regard to this point.
§ Mr. TINKERCam the right hon. Gentleman say whether there is any method to prevent cards being stamped if afterwards no claim can be made?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONIf those who put on stamps do not ask my Department, I cannot accept responsibility. If they ask whether they ought or ought not to put on stamps they will be told, but, when they have put them on in error of the law, as this man appears to have done, then they can claim a refund.