§ 65. Mr. Lawsonasked the Minister of Labour whether he has any statement to make on the report of the Statutory Committee?
§ The Minister of Labour (Mr. Ernest Brown)As the House is aware, the Unemployment Insurance Statutory Committee have reported that the General Account of the Unemployment Fund has again a disposable surplus of a substantial amount and have therefore recommended by a majority that the waiting period for the receipt of benefit should be reduced from six to three days and that there should be a relaxation of the conditions under which more than 156 days of benefit may be drawn in the benefit year. The Government have decided to adopt this recommendation and the necessary Resolution will be tabled immediately, with a view to making the reduction in the waiting period effective from 1st April.
§ Mr. LawsonHas the right hon. Gentleman given attention to that part of the report in which the Committee are shown to be paying 3 per cent. for loans, and getting only a little over 1 per cent. interest?
§ Mr. BrownThere are many interesting points in the report, which I hope the whole House will read. But these 1832 are the recommendations of the Committee, and they have been accepted, and I should have thought that
Even the ranks of TuscanyCould scarce forbear to cheer.
§ Mr. MaxtonCan the Minister say what is the estimated cost of these two concessions?
§ Mr. BrownThe estimated cost of the two concessions is just over £17,000,000 over an eight-year period, £2,250,000 a year.
§ Mr. MaxtonIs not that a very small fraction of the total savings?
§ Mr. BrownThe other part of the savings, as the hon. Member knows, is held in reserve against a period of depression, so that we may not have to cut benefits or increase contributions.
§ Mr. LawsonIs that the use the Government intend to make of the surplus?
§ Mr. BrownThere have been similar reports which have been discussed in this House on previous occasions, but this is the recommendation of the Statutory Committee which we have adopted.