§ 19. Mr. De CHAIRasked the Minister of Labour whether he has considered the plan submitted to him earlier in the session for the creation of a national labour reserve in which the unemployed could enjoy a more satisfactory status than they enjoy at present; and whether he will take advantage of the opportunity offered by the revision of the unemployment assistance regulations to substitute for the dole a form of reserve pay, such as the plan proposes, without additional cost to the State?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADThe plan has been carefully considered by my right hon. Friend, but he regrets he cannot see his way to adopt it.
§ Mr. De CHAIRIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that considerable sympathy exists for this idea in responsible quarters?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADI think a great deal of sympathy exists for a lot of ideas.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENIs it not the case that, if an unemployed man does a little work and receives 5s. or 10s., he is discouraged by having the whole of it taken off his unemployment pay? Is not that altogether wrong?