HC Deb 11 July 1938 vol 338 cc921-2
68. Mr. Whiteley

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that by a ballot of the men at Betteshanger Colliery, Kent, the dispute was brought to an end on 25th June and that the chief insurance officer refuses to accept that the dispute is at an end, thus depriving 250 men of unemployment benefit; and whether he will have immediate inquiries made with a view to these men receiving their benefit?

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour (Mr. Lennox-Boyd)

Section 26 of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1935, provides that an insured contributor who has lost employment by reason of a stoppage of work which was due to a trade dispute at the factory, workshop or other premises at which he was employed shall be disqualified for receiving benefit so long as the stoppage of work continues. I understand that in this case the insurance officer has held that, although the trade dispute is over, the stoppage of work continues, and on this ground he has disallowed the claims of some men who have not yet been re-engaged. The court of referees has upheld this decision, and it is open to the men's association to appeal to the umpire against it.

Mr. Whiteley

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that one of the reasons given is that there is a shortage of young labour and that during this dispute 100 men have joined the Army; and are those men who remain to be penalised?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

As I pointed out, it is open to the men's association to appeal to the umpire. In regard to the particular statement advanced by the hon. Member, it is true that one of the reasons for the difficulty of restarting these men in employment is a serious deficiency in the number of haulage boys.

Mr. Whiteley

But is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the court of referees has disallowed the appeal completely?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

The right of appeal to the umpire still remain with the men's association.

Mr. Whiteley

Owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the answer, I intend to raise this matter, which is a matter of principle, on the Motion for the Adjournment.