16. Miss Wardasked the Minister of Labour whether unemployment benefit is being paid to men who have ceased work owing to the platers' strike at Wallsend-on-Tyne, and who are not parties to the dispute?
§ Mr. E. BrownYes, Sir.
17. Miss Wardasked the Minister of Labour whether he will give an assurance that in future there will be no delay, other than the statutory period, in convening a court of referees where a decision has to be taken regarding the legality of paying unemployment benefit to men who have ceased work owing to an idustrial dispute to which they are not a party?
§ Mr. BrownI am not aware that there has been avoidable delay in dealing with claims for unemployment benefit arising out of trade disputes, and do not anticipate that there will in future be any such delay.
Miss WardIs my right hon. Friend aware that if there is not a court of referees sitting and available to hear a case, there is a certain amount of delay until the next court, and will he make inquiries into this matter?
§ Mr. BrownThat is a general statement. If the hon. Lady has any particular facts relating to a case I shall be glad to look into them, but I have told her that I am not aware of any avoidable delay.
18. Miss Wardasked the Minister of Labour whether he will request the Statutory Committee to examine the regulations at present governing the payment of unemployment benefit to workers engaged on work which is subject to weather conditions, in order to ascertain whether such regulations operate fairly and adequately?
§ Mr. BrownIf my hon. Friend will let me have particulars of the cases which she has in mind, I will consider her suggestion.
Miss WardMay I ask whether my right hon. Friend will consider it on the general issue and whether the trade union 356 representatives concerned have any views?
§ Mr. BrownI do not see that I can deal with that in general terms. It will depend on the nature of the occupation.