HC Deb 04 May 1936 vol 311 cc1340-1
28 and 29. Mr. KELLY

asked the Minister of Labour (1) the amount of money paid out of the Unemployment Insurance Fund in each of the last three years for the erection of Employment Exchanges;

(2) what proportion of the Unemployment Insurance Fund has, during the last five years, been spent for the building and alteration of Employment Exchanges?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Lieut.-Colonel Muirhead)

As the reply includes a number of figures, I will, if I may, circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. KELLY

Has any money been spent out of the Unemployment Insurance Fund for the purpose of constructing new Employment Exchanges?

Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEAD

This was done on the authority of Section 62 of the Unemployment Act, 1935.

Mr. KELLY

Am I to understand that it is intended to take out of the Unemployment Insurance Fund part of the cost of the huge new building to be erected in Whitehall?

Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEAD

If the hon. Member wishes to ask me a hypothetical question about a specific building, perhaps he will put it down.

Sir W. BRASS

Could my hon. and gallant Friend say whether this is a very large sum, or only a small one I Only three sums are involved in the answer to the question on the Paper.

Captain HAROLD BALFOUR

Since the buildings are used, not only for unemployment insurance purposes, but also for public assistance purposes, could my hon. and gallant Friend say whether rent is paid to the Unemployment Insurance Fund in respect of the use to which the buildings are put for purposes other than unemployment insurance?

Year ended 31st March. Charged to the Insurance Account of the Fund. Charged to the Transitional Payments Account (a) in respect of Transitional Benefits and Payments and Unemployment Allowances.
Amount. Col. (2) expressed as a percentage of net contribution income.
(1). (2). (3). (4).
£ Per cent. £
1932 … … … … 219,450 .44 70,621
1933 … … … … 118,961 .21 86,365
1934 … … … … 72,518 .12 66,144
1935 … … … … 177,846 .28 129,817
1936 … … … … 160,641 .25 99,605
(a) The expenditure charged to the Transitional Payments Account was repaid to the Fund out of Voted Moneys.