§ 6. Sir FRANCIS ACLANDasked the Minister of Labour whether under the Unemployment Bill allotment holders in receipt of unemployment benefit will be liable to be prevented from cultivating their allotments owing to having to attend a training course?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONNo, Sir. Clause 7 of the Bill provides that persons required by the Minister of Labour to attend a training course may show that they have good cause for not attending, 2067 and that thereupon there is to be no loss of benefit owing to failure to attend. I do not anticipate that any Minister of Labour will require an allotment holder to attend a training course if this means that he cannot continue to cultivate his allotment, certainly I should not do so myself; but in the unlikely event of such a requirement being issued I have no doubt that the allotment holder would be able to show to the satisfaction of the statutory authorities that he had good cause for not attending.
§ Sir F. ACLANDWill my right hon. Friend consider the possibility of giving publicity to that answer, which will very much relieve the minds of many unemployed men who are hesitating about taking up allotments?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONI am much obliged for the supplementary question of the right hon. Baronet. No doubt this answer in the House will obtain publicity. I will take what steps I can to obtain all possible publicity for it.