BENEFIT (HOLIDAY PAYMENTS). (Hansard, 14 July 1938)

§ 3. Mr. Gallacher
asked the Minister of Labour whether he has considered a resolution from the Glasgow and Edinburgh Joint Trades Council protesting against the holiday pay restrictions imposed upon the unemployed; and what steps he proposes to take to suspend the regulations complained of?

§ Mr. E. Brown
I would refer the hon. Member to the reply on this subject which I gave on 7th July to the hon. Members for Kirkcaldy (Mr. Kennedy) and Mary-hill (Mr. Davidson) of which I am sending him a copy.

§ Mr. Gallacher
Has the Minister no further information or report on this matter?

§ Mr. Brown
Perhaps the hon. Member will look at the answer. He will see that I have communicated with the council concerned.

§ Mr. Lawson
Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that every decision on this matter of unemployment and holidays with pay seems to be increasing the confusion, and could he not deal with the matter either by quick legislation or by an Order-in-Council?

§ Mr. Brown
I do not agree with the hon. Gentleman's first statement. The last decision did away with a large number of uncertainties. As the House will remember, I promised to produce a memorandum of all past decisions, including this one, showing what the situation is. The major issue was put to the Statutory Committee some time ago, and we hope to have a report before long.

§ Mr. Gallacher
Is the Minister aware that at the present time men are being refused unemployment benefit on the strength of their getting holiday pay, and that the unemployment benefit would be more than the holiday pay?

§ Mr. Brown
I would like to have any cases of that sort brought to my notice, hut the resolution was concerned with particular cases, namely, engineers. The umpire's decision was a very long one, and I have already circulated it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

§ Mr. Lawson
Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the chairman of the Unemployment Assistance Board has communicated with the General Council of the Trades Union Congress, and that it has been stated that the decision makes the situation more confusing than ever?