§ 11. Captain Sir WILLIAM BRASSasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that considerable dissatisfaction exists in the industrial part of Lancashire owing to the fact that unemployed workers with good insurance records are unable to profit by the provisions of Part I of the Unemployment Act to get extra benefits if their benefit years happen to end before 26th July, 1934, the date of the coming into operation of the Act, unless they are able to qualify for another benefit year by getting 10 stamps on their cards, an extremely difficult thing to do with the present depressed state of the cotton trade; and whether, in order to remove this grievance, he will consider introducing legislation at an early date?
Mr. STANLEYPart I of the Unemployment Act granted additional days of benefit to claimants who had been eligible for benefit at some time during their benefit years which were current when the Act began to operate. This was generally recognised as a generous provision, and I cannot hold out any hopes of further legislation on the point.
§ Sir W. BRASSIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the intention of Parliament was that these persons should not suffer as a result of the passing of the Act. Is it not hard that, owing to the present depression in Lancashire, it is quite possible that they may never be able to profit by the passing of the Act?
Mr. STANLEYI must assume that the intention of Parliament is set out in the Act which Parliament passed. I recognise that there are unfortunate cases; that is always the case when new legislation of this kind takes effect from a particular date.
§ Sir W. BRASSIs it not a flaw in the Act?