§ 1 Mr. Ellis Smithasked the Minister of Labour (1) whether he is aware that the number of able-bodied persons in receipt of relief taken over by the Unemployment Assistance Board on the second appointed day from the area covered by the city of Stoke-on-Trent has fallen far short of expectations of the city 2377 council; and what action does he propose to take;
(2) whether he has now given further consideration to the resolutions passed at the conference of distressed areas held in London on 11th June; and, if so, what action has been taken or is contemplated to be taken;
(3) whether he is aware of the burden remaining on a small number of large industrial cities and county areas following the restricted interpretations placed upon Section 36 of the Unemployment Assistance Act, 1934; whether he is aware that in the area of the city of Stoke-on-Trent out of 218 applications made to the Unemployment Assistance Board only 83 persons have been granted an allowance, leaving 135 persons who still have to continue to receive assistance from the local rate fund; and what action does he propose to take?
§ The Minister of Labour (Mr. Ernest Brown)As I stated in my reply yesterday to questions by the hon. Member for Everton (Mr. Kirby) I received a deputation on Tuesday last representing certain local authorities regarding the interpretation of Section 36 of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1934. These representations are receiving my consideration.
§ Mr. ThorneWill the right hon. Gentleman receive another deputation similar to that which he received the other day before the Adjournment?
§ Mr. BrownNo, I think not. I received a large number of facts and figures, and I have to verify them, and it will possibly take more than a week to do so.
§ 6. Mr. Graham Whiteasked the Minister of Labour whether he is now in a position to give any further information as to the number of new and reassessed cases due to receive from the Unemployment Assistance Board more than the corresponding rate of employment benefit, and the number due to receive not more than the corresponding rate of employment benefit?
§ Mr. BrownAs I explained to the hon. Member on a previous occasion, this information is not available.
§ Mr. WhiteWill any information on this matter be included in the report of the Unemployment Assistance Board?
§ Mr. LawsonHow is it that the right hon. Gentleman cannot give the House this information though he can give such information sometimes when it is information which makes his own followers cheer?
§ Mr. BrownThe hon. Gentleman is under a misapprehension. I have been asked about the relation between one set of figures and another in regard to rates of benefit, and I am saying that that was the old method of calculation before the new Act.
8. Mr. J. J. Davidsonasked the Minister of Labour the total number of single men and women who have received reductions since the operation of the new Unemployment Assistance Board scales; and the total amount of reduction in Glasgow?
§ Mr. BrownI regret that separate figures in respect of reductions in the allowances of single men and women and information regarding the total amount of reductions is not available. In the Board's administrative district of Glasgow I, there were 311 persons who were receiving on 25th June last less than they would have received under the Standstill arrangements and otherwise than on account of the applicant's personal earnings.
Mr. DavidsonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that reports have been circulated in Glasgow to the effect that many unemployed people there are suffering reductions under these new scales of from 2s. to 7s. per week; is he aware that these reductions are increasing weekly; and is he further aware that these reductions and the decline of purchasing power create more unemployment in the city?
§ Mr. BrownThe hon. Member puts to me a rumour. If he has any facts, I shall be glad to look at them. My information is twofold—first, that there have been under review 9,600 increases and 311 decreases.
Mr. DavidsonDoes the right hon. Gentleman deny that there are people in Glasgow under these new scales receiving reductions of from 2s. to 7s. per week?
§ Mr. BrownThe hon. Member must put a question of details like than on the Paper. He has asked me for some figures, and I have given them.
Mr. DavidsonThe right hon. Gentleman said that I was repeating a rumour. Does he deny the statement that is circulated that these people are suffering from 2s. to 7s. per week reductions in Glasgow?
§ Mr. BrownI could not be expected to answer such a question by way of supplementary question and answer across the Floor, but if the hon. Member will put a question down in form, I shall be glad to answer it.
§ Mr. A. JenkinsDid the right hon. Gentleman say that it was impossible to give the figures asked for in the question?
§ Mr. BrownI said that the information asked for in the first part of the question was not available.
§ Mr. JenkinsWill the right hon. Gentleman undertake to supply the information?
§ 12. Mr. Gallacherasked the Minister of Labour the aggregate amount by which unemployment scale rates have had to be increased in order to make rent adjustments, from the inception of the Unemployment Assistance Board and during the last convenient 12 months; and what has been the average increase in scale rates per applicant during the whole period?
§ Mr. BrownI regret that the information for which the hon. Member asks is not available and cannot be obtained without undue labour.