HC Deb 29 April 1937 vol 323 cc505-6
8. Mr. R. Gibson

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the rivet-heaters who are at present unemployed through the strike at Greenock and Port Glasgow and elsewhere on the Clyde have received no assistance, though the majority of them are married men with families; and whether he has any statement to make on the situation?

Mr. E. Brown

The only cases of which I have information are those in which rivet-heaters are themselves on strike and accordingly neither unemployment benefit nor unemployment assistance is payable to rivet-heaters unemployed at the works concerned. If the hon. Member has any other cases in mind. I should be glad if he would give me particulars and I will make inquiries.

Mr. Gibson

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that some eight of these rivet-heaters were received into the poor house at Greenock on Monday and four on Tuesday, and that on Tuesday some 20 applications for admission to the institution were refused?

Mr. Brown

That may, of course, be so. If the hon. Gentleman wants to discuss the matter with me I shall be very glad to do so. The law is clear on the matter, and has been clear from the beginning of the Acts.