HC Deb 28 May 1936 vol 312 cc2165-6
11. Mr, LUNN

asked the Minister of Labour under what section of the Unemployment Insurance Act the means test is applied to a man in receipt of statutory unemployment benefit; and under what section of the Act the Employment Exchanges are requiring men to explain how they spend the money they receive as insurance benefit?

Mr. E. BROWN

As my hon. Friend explained, in reply to the hon. Member's question on 21st May, no form of means test is applied to claimants for unemployment benefit. If, as I presume, the inquiries to which the hon. Member refers are made in connection with claims for dependant's benefit they arise out of the provision in Section 37, Sub-section (2), of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1935, which requires the claimant, in respect of certain classes of dependants, to show that the dependant is wholly or mainly maintained by him.

Mr. LUNN

Is the idea of the committee which the right hon. Gentleman announced in answer to the Question No. 10 to direct people how to spend their money when they are in receipt of statutory benefit?

Mr. BROWN

That committee was much sought by Members on the other side of the House.