HC Deb 01 May 1935 vol 301 cc369-71
51. Mr. LOGAN

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can now state if the unemployed are to get any special Jubilee grant; and, as 6th May is a Bank Holiday, will that day's pay be made to applicants registered at the Employment Exchanges

Mr. HUDSON

In answer to the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given to the hon. Member for Sunderland (Mr. Storey) on the 15th April and the hon. Member for Faversham (Mr. Maitland) on the 18th April, and in answer to the second part of the question to the reply given to the hon. Member for Chester-le-Street (Mr. Lawson) on the 21st February.

Mr. LOGAN

In view of the reply which has been given, and which really contains no reply whatever, will the hon. Gentleman be good enough to answer the question now before the House? I want to know if a special grant is to be given, and also, if the Bank Holiday is a Bank Holiday under the law, whether any one in receipt of unemployment benefit will get any benefit on that day?

Mr. HUDSON

If the hon. Gentleman will look at the answers, he will find that they give full replies to both those questions.

Mr. G. GRIFFITHS

Is it not a fact that the part-time unemployed person who plays for three days on that week, including the Bank Holiday, will not get the benefit of the other two days, and that he will be cut out because of the Bank Holiday?

Mr. HUDSON

I shall be glad to answer that question if the hon. Member will put it upon the Paper.

Mr. LOGAN

Will the hon. Member kindly let us know whether it is "No" or "Yes," and then I will be perfectly satisfied without referring the matter to anyone else. There has never been a reply given in this House specifically to these questions, and I want to know whether the answer is "Yea" or "Nay."

Mr. HUDSON

I have given an answer to the hon. Gentleman's question.

Mr. T. SMITH

Does not the hon. Gentleman appreciate that it is in the interests of the unemployed themselves that this matter should be cleared up and a definite reply given?

Mr. HUDSON

Repeated questions have been asked on the point and repeated answers have been given. The question of whether or not in any particular circumstances a man is entitled to benefit is a matter for the statutory authorities and not for the Minister. The Minister, in answer to the hon. Member for Chester-le-Street (Mr. Lawson), gave a reply as far as was possible, and there is really nothing which I can add to the answer.

Sir P. HARRIS

Does not the hon. Gentleman realise that there will be a lot of discontent if the position is not made absolutely clear to the men concerned, that is, the unemployed, and cannot he give the House a reply now so that they will know where they are?

Mr. HUDSON

I think that every un-employed man knows that the question of whether or not he is to receive benefit on a particular day is a matter for the statutory authorities and is not one to which either my right hon. Friend or I can give a full answer without knowing all the circumstances of the case, and that is made quite clear in the answers given by my right hon. Friend.

Mr. LOGAN

In view of the unsatisfactory reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment.