§ 11. Mr. WHITESIDEasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that, in spite of the fact that in 1932 Mr. William Wick, of 12, Moor Crescent, Dewsbury Road, Leeds, suffered a term of imprisonment for an offence under the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1930, he was again penalised for the same offence by deductions from his unemployment benefit upon becoming temporarily unemployed in 1935; and whether, in view of the fact that he has already been punished for his offence, the deductions so made will be refunded to him?
§ Mr. E. BROWNI am advised that Mr. Wick's conviction and imprisonment did not relieve him of his liability to repay to the Unemployment Fund the amount of benefit wrongly obtained. The court of referees authorised the recovery of the debt by deductions from benefit subsequently payable to Mr. Wick, and I have no power to refund them.
§ Mr. WHITESIDEIs the Minister aware that the effect of the provision is that the man's child is penalised for the man's misdemeanour, and is now being 291 penalised, years later, under the terms of the Act? Will he not reconsider the matter?