§ 1 and 2. Mr. ELLIS SMITHasked the Minister of Labour (1) whether he will issue a report, for each administrative area, of the work of the Unemployment Assistance Board Advisory Committees, including the advice tendered by the advisory committees to the local area officer;
(2) whether he will issue a report showing the effect of the operation of the Rent Allowance Regulation in each administrative area covered by the Unemployment Assistance Board Advisory Committees?
§ The MINISTER of LABOUR (Mr. Ernest Brown)It would be premature to draw up such reports in advance of experience of the working of the new Regulations, but the board inform me that they intend to make available as much information as possible about the work of the advisory committees as soon as this can appropriately be done. I am informed by the board that information on these points will be included in their annual report for 1936.
§ Mr. SMITHWill the Minister reconsider this matter in order that Members of the House can keep themselves acquainted with the administration of each area?
§ Mr. GEORGE GRIFFITHSWill the Minister speak a little more slowly in order that we can get hold of his answers?
§ 3. Mr. E. SMITHasked the Minister of Labour the number of days during 1935 and 1936, respectively, when the 1014 Unemployment Assistance Board met and the average duration of the sessions?
§ Mr. BROWNI am informed that formal meetings of the board were held on 64 days in 1935 and on 35 days up to date in 1936, the duration of the meetings being usually about four hours. I should add that the chairman and vice-chairman give whole time attendance, and that the other members devote a good deal of time to administrative work apart from formal meetings of the board.
§ 22. Mr. KIRBYasked the Minister of Labour the number of officers transferred from service with public assistance committees to the service of the Unemployment Assistance Board who, having been promised that they would be placed on the established list with pension rights, have so far been placed, giving the figures throughout the country as a whole and in the City of Liverpool, respectively?
§ Mr. BROWN1,123 persons transferred from local authority service to serve in a temporary capacity under the Unemployment Assistance Board were declared successful last May in a limited competition for pensionable posts, subject to their satisfying the Civil Service Commissioners as to their eligibility for appointment on grounds of age, health and character. Of this total 905 have so far been certificated to pensionable posts. The corresponding figures for the City of Liverpool are 43 and 35, respectively.