HC Deb 23 March 1933 vol 276 cc469-70
3. Mr. McGOVERN

asked the Minister of Labour if he Can state the total number of omnibus drivers, painters, lamplighters and domestic servants that have been disallowed benefit under the Anomalies Act?

The MINISTER of LABOUR (Sir Henry Betterton)

I regret that statistics giving the information desired are not available.

Mr. McGOVERN

Is there no method of getting the numbers of persons in separate trades who have been disallowed benefit? Surely they are recorded?

Sir H. BETTERTON

No, Sir; that is the difficulty; they are not recorded. What are recorded are the numbers in the three different categories set out in the Anomalies Act, that is to say, short-timers, seasonal workers, and intermittent workers. They are classified in that way, and that is the only classification.

Sir PERCY HARRIS

Is it not the case that domestic servants do not come under the Act?

Sir H. BETTERTON

Ordinary domestic servants do not, but sometimes a question arises as to whether a particular individual comes under the description of a domestic servant or not.