HC Deb 07 March 1938 vol 332 cc1528-9
48. Miss Rathbone

asked the Prime Minister when the House will be given the opportunity of discussing any proposals or orders arising out of the newly issued reports of the Unemployment Insurance Statutory Committee?

50. Mr. Sandys

asked the Prime Minister whether the House will be given an early opportunity to discuss the recently published reports of the Unemployment Insurance Statutory Committee?

The Prime Minister

The House will be asked to approve the draft Orders to carry out the recommendations contained in the report of the Unemployment Insurance Statutory Committee. The Motions to approve the draft Orders are being placed on the Order Paper, but I am not in a position to announce when they will be taken.

Miss Rathbone

Will the Prime Minister give the House an assurance that the Orders will be taken at an hour when there will be time for an adequate discussion, in view of the fact that the report not only makes specific recommendations about the surplus, but also raises important issues with regard to the relationship between wages and unemployment benefit?

The Prime Minister

I hope to bring on this discussion at a reasonable hour.

Mr. Lawson

When will the Orders be laid?

The Prime Minister

I think to-night.

49. Mr. Sandys

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the findings of the Reports of the Unemployment Insurance Statutory Committee, he intends to institute a special inquiry into the problems arising from the financial burden of child dependency and into the practicability of the introduction of some general system of family allowances such as has been adopted in other parts of the Empire and in a number of foreign countries, as well as by certain business firms in the United Kingdom?

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

I have been asked to reply. The comments of the Unemployment Insurance Statutory Committee were concerned with the relation between the rates of unemployment benefit and normal earnings in individual cases; this aspect of the matter will continue to receive attention. The question of a general system of family allowances is a much wider one, and my right hon. Friend does not think that a special inquiry at this moment would be likely to lead to practical results.

Mr. Jagger

Is that also the view of General Franco, or is the hon. Gentleman speaking for himself?

Miss Rathbone

Is the hon. Gentleman bearing in mind that this is the second time the Statutory Committee has called attention to the fact that the question of unemployment assistance can never be satisfactorily settled until wages and unemployment assistance are brought into proper relation; and, in view of that fact, will he not reconsider the question of appointing a committee?