§ 2. Mr. BANFIELDasked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to cases of suicide in Walsall and South London stated to be in consequence of transitional benefit being disallowed; and whether he will make inquiries into the circumstances which led to benefit being stopped?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Mr. R. S. Hudson)In the case in South London which I think the hon. Member has in mind, a claim for transitional payments was disallowed unanimously by a fully constituted court of referees on the ground of failure to satisfy the condition requiring the claimant to prove "that he is normally employed in, and will normally seek to obtain his livelihood by means of, insurable employment." I have no knowledge of any such case at Walsall, but I am making inquiries and will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as possible.
§ 8. Mr. THORNEasked the Minister of Labour what amount is being deducted from the sale of produce from allotments held by registered unemployed men at Marlborough, Wiltshire, by the local means test committee; and what amount per diem is allowed per person which is non-assessable?
§ Mr. HUDSONThis is a matter within the discretion of local authorities, and the particulars asked for are not in my possession.