§ 5. Captain Pluggeasked the Minister of Labour whether the Unemployment Statutory Committee has yet reached any decision with regard to the representations made to them on behalf of workers in Admiralty dockyards who fall out of the unemployment insurance scheme on becoming established and whose pensions on retirement are less in amount than the rates of unemployment benefit and unemployment assistance for which they would otherwise have been qualified?
§ Mr. E. BrownThe unemployment Insurance Statutory Committee have not yet presented their report on the matter to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers. I understand that they expect to be in a position to do so in the near future.
§ Captain PluggeIs my right hon. Friend aware that in many cases the pensions of retired established dockyard employés are so small that they would be better off if they were without them and could qualify for unemployment benefit?
§ Mr. BrownI do not think they would agree with that statement in the way in which my hon. and gallant Friend puts it, but, as he knows, this is one of the reasons for the inquiry by the committee.