§ 70. Mr. MABANEasked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the fact that the date for restoring the rates of unemployment insurance benefit to the previous figure has been fixed at 1st July, not in consideration of cost but purely on account of the administrative difficulties of making retrospective payments, and in view of the further fact that these administrative difficulties would be avoided by the introduction of an ad hoc Bill to restore the rates of benefit at some date earlier than 1st July and to cover the period between that earlier date and 1st July, he will undertake to introduce such a Bill immediately if assurances can be obtained that the Bill will not be opposed at any stage?
§ The MINISTER of LABOUR (Sir Henry Betterton)No, Sir. I regret that this is not possible.
§ Mr. MABANEWould it not be possible by a simple Amendment of the National Economy Act, 1931; and, in view of the fact that the majority of Members of the House would be very willing to accept such a Bill, could it not be done if no cost is involved, as the right hon. Gentleman declared on the 23rd April?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONI am advised that it would need first a Financial Resolution with all its stages, and then a Bill with all its stages; in addition, there is a great deal of administrative work to be done in consequence of the change of the rates of benefit. Having regard to the fact that to-day is the 1st May, I doubt if anything could be done before the 1st July.
§ Mr. MABANECould it not be done to take effect on the 1st June?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONNo, for the reasons I have given, I do not think it could, and the saving of time would be infinitesimal if we adopted the suggestion of my hon. Friend.
§ Mr. TINKERIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in a matter like this we should do all we could to get the Bill through quickly?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONI am delighted to hear that, and I would remind the hon. Member that as soon as the Unemployment Bill gets through a large number of people will benefit.