§ 27. Mr. POTTSasked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to the case of John Robert Atherton, residing at 2, Castle Road, Monk Bretton, Barnsley, Yorkshire, employed as a haulage tractor, who, although he has paid his unemployment insurance contributions regularly, was refused unemployment benefit after two weeks when, owing to weather conditions, he became re-employed; and can he say under what authority the man was refused benefit?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Lieut.-Colonel Muirhead)Payment of benefit was suspended because certain of the contributions in respect of which benefit had been authorised were found to have been paid in respect of work that was not insurable.
§ Mr. POTTSIf this man is not entitled to become an insured contributor, and seeing that during the whole of the time that he has worked as a haulage tractor his contributions to National Health Insurance have been stamped regularly, can the hon. and gallant Gentleman tell the House why, during the first two weeks of unemployment, he received unemployment benefit and then was referred to the Statutory authority, who for the remaining weeks referred him back to the public assistance authority?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADI have given the hon. Member the reply to the question he asked. I may say that, leaving out of consideration those contributions which were found to have been paid in error, the man was still found to be entitled to some benefit, and this benefit was paid.
§ Mr. POTTSI want to know what will be his future position, seeing that he is still working at the same kind of work, and has been told that he is not now an insured contributor? What will arise now, after having paid contributions during all these years?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADThe future position will be governed by the appropriate Regulations.
§ 28 and 29. Mr. EDEasked the Minister of Labour (1) whether he has yet seen 1614 in draft the revised scales for the payment of benefit under the Unemployment Assistance Board; whether he has made any comments on any draft or proposals of the board; and when he last heard from the board on the subject;
(2) whether he proposes to submit the revised scales for the payment of benefit under the Unemployment Assistance Board to the House before Easter, 1936?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADThere is nothing I can add at present to previous answers on this subject.
§ Mr. EDESeeing that none of the previous answers dealt with the specific question as to whether the hon. and gallant Gentleman's right hon. Friend has yet seen the draft, can he say whether, in fact, the draft has been submitted to the Minister for his observations or not?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADThe House is entitled to certain statutory information at the proper time, and all relevant matters will be laid before the House at the proper time. The method of communication between the Minister and the board meanwhile is a matter for the Minister and the board.
§ Sir P. HARRISWill the hon. and gallant Gentleman say what he considers to be the proper time? Have we not been waiting long enough for what was called "the proper time"?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADThe proper time will be in the Spring.
§ Lieut.-Commander FLETCHERIs not Spring Day on 21st March?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADSpring has come, but not yet gone.
§ Mr. PARKERWill it be the Spring of 1936 or 1937?