§ 28. Mr. D. GRAHAMasked the Minister of Labour whether the standstill arrangement is operating in the Hamilton exchange area; and, if so, the reason why the officials of the Unemployment Assistance Board are demanding the production of rent books of persons in receipt of benefit?
§ The MINISTER of LABOUR '(Mr. Oliver Stanley)I am informed that the terms of the Unemployment Assistance (Temporary Provisions) Act are being applied in Hamilton. As regards the second part of the question, I presume that the hon. Member is referring to applications for unemployment assistance; in this connection the production of the rent book is being called for in order to determine whether the transitional payments rate or the rate under the Unemployment Assistance Regulations, which may be affected by the amount of the rent, would be the more favourable to the applicant.
§ 29. Mr. SMEDLEY CROOKEasked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the progress which has been made in setting up local advisory committees to the Unemployment Assistance Board, as provided in the Unemployment Act, 1934?
§ Mr. STANLEYI am not in a position to add to the reply which I gave on 2nd May to a similar question by the hon. Member for East Birkenhead (Mr. White).
§ Mr. KENNETH LINDSAYAre these advisory committees also subject to a standstill arrangement?
§ 25 and 26. Mr. BATEY (for Mr. LAWSON)asked the Minister of Labour (1) the total cost of assistance paid by the Unemployment Board since 7th January, and the estimated total cost of the standstill arrangement; (2) what would have been the total cost from the 7th January up to the latest date if the transitional payments had still been in operation?
§ Mr. STANLEYExact information as to the total cost from 7th January, 1935, if transitional payments had still been in operation, is not available, but it is estimated that, up to the 18th May, 1935, the expenditure would have been about £15,150,000. The amount paid by way of transitional payments and unemployment assistance allowances during the period was about 15,870,000, of which £1,300,000 was attributable to the standstill arrangement.
§ 27. Mr. BATEY (for Mr. LAWSON)asked the Minister of Labour the total amount paid to claimants as retrospective payment as a result of the standstill arrangements under which the Unemployment Board's regulations were suspended?
§ Mr. STANLEYThe total amount paid to claimants for arrears of unemployment allowances under the provisions of the Unemployment Assistance (Temporary Provisions) Act, 1935, was approximately £100,000.