§ 1. Sir EDMUND FINDLAYasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Joseph Bowie, of Buckie, has been refused dependants' benefit for his two children, without right of appeal, by the Banff Court of Referees on the grounds that his children were not wholly or mainly maintained by him, in that a son made contributions while the father was employed as a wage deck-hand; and whether he will, at the earliest moment, introduce legislation to amend the anomaly disclosed by this and similar cases?
§ The MINISTER of LABOUR (Mr. Ernest Brown)Mr. Bowie's application for dependants' benefit for his young children was disallowed by the court of referees on the ground that he had not shown that the children were wholly or mainly maintained by him. He has been given the opportunity to apply to the chairman of the court for leave to appeal to the umpire against this decision. I 1062 do not think that the law should be altered so as to make benefit allowances payable in respect of children who are not wholly or mainly maintained by the applicant.
§ Mr. GORDON MACDONALDIs there a uniform rule throughout the country to determine household income?
§ Mr. MACDONALDIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are hard cases in my division, which have been brought to his notice, of people of similar income, some of whom are getting it and some not?
§ Mr. TINKERIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this is contrary to what it was thought the Act of Parliament meant, and will he not give consideration to various appeals that are being made for an alteration in the law in this respect?