HC Deb 28 July 1938 vol 338 cc3272-3
17. Mr. Cartland

asked the Minister of Labour whether he proposes to take any action in Birmingham to prevent 3,000 of the unemployed in that city from losing, as is proposed, one day's unemployment benefit?

20. Sir Hugh Seely

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the hardship which will be caused to unemployed persons registered at the Birmingham Employment Exchange through the institution of a new benefit week during the August holiday week and the consequent loss of one day's benefit; and what steps he proposes to take to mitigate this hardship?

21. Mr. Simmonds

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he has taken to prevent the possibility of any recipients of unemployment benefit in the Birmingham area having the amount of their benefit reduced in any week as a result of internal changes in departmental routine?

Mr. E. Brown

The arrangements which it has been necessary to make at the Birmingham Employment Exchange are explained in the reply of 25th July to the hon. Member for Deritend (Sir J. Smedley Crooke), of which I am sending the hon. Members a copy. In view of the representations that have been made I am having the matter further examined.

Mr. Cartland

May we take it that until the right hon. Gentleman's examination is concluded, this new reorganisation will not be put into effect?

Mr. Brown

As I explained in the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Deritend (Sir J. Smedley Crooke), it is for the convenience of the unemployed that these arrangements should be made in two places instead of one. I hope that my re-examination will lead to a solution of the matter, whereby we shall be able to avoid the recurrence of this.

Mr. Simmonds

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that so many of the expenses of the unemployed are fixed charges, and that the loss of one-sixth of their pay in one week would have serious results?

Mr. Brown

Of course, there is no final loss in any case. I should correct one statement that has been made. This has happened before in other areas, where there has been some pressure through increased rent charges.

Mr. James Griffiths

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind the significance to the Government of the fact that Birmingham is beginning to worry about the unemployed?