HC Deb 24 October 1935 vol 305 cc288-9
6. Mr. BATEY

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the Unemployment Assistance Board are acting illegally, and contrary to Subsection (3) of Section 38 of the Unemployment Act, 1934, in applying the needs test to the unemployed in the absence of amended regulations; and what steps he proposes to take to stop this illegal action and make amends to the persons who have suffered from it?

Mr. E. BROWN

No, Sir, I know of no ground for the hon. Member's suggestion that the Unemployment Assistance Board are acting illegally.

Mr. BATEY

Has the Minister consulted the Law Officers of the Crown as to the action of the Unemployment Assistance Board?

Mr. BROWN

I am quite satisfied that the legal opinion I have given is accurate.

Mr. BATEY

Has the Minister consulted the Law Officers of the Crown?

Mr. BROWN

No. I have been asked a question and given the answer in the terms which will be seen in the OFFICIAL REPORT to-morrow.

Mr. LOGAN

I take it that the Unemployment Assistance Board's scales will not be less than the scales when the regulations were drawn up?

Mr. BROWN

That is another issue.

7. Mr. GRAHAM WHITE

asked the Minister of Labour whether the establishment of advisory committees to the Unemployment Assistance Board under Part II of the Unemployment Act, 1934, has now been completed?

Mr. BROWN

As I informed the right hon. Member for Wakefield (Mr. Greenwood) the whole problem of the future arrangements is receiving the anxious consideration of the board and myself. One part of the problem is the functions within the Unemployment Act to be exercised by the local advisory committees which the board is under a statutory duty to set up, and I have suggested to the board that in the present circumstances it would be premature to take the formal step of constituting them finally.

15. Mr. MANDER

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider the advisability of abolishing the household means test forthwith?

Mr. BROWN

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the right hon. Member for Wakefield (Mr. Greenwood) on Tuesday.

Mr. MANDER

In view of the fact that all the other economy cuts have been restored does not the right hon. Gentleman think it is time to abolish this test in view of the great hardship involved?

Mr. BROWN

I have nothing to add to the statement I made on Tuesday.