HC Deb 08 June 1939 vol 348 cc571-2
13. Mr. Whiteley

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will arrange to have notices posted at the exchanges informing persons who come within the scope of the Unemployment Act, 1934, that immediately prior to resuming work they should apply to the Unemployment Assistance Board for an allowance to them and their dependants pending the receipt of wages, and thus obviate them having to seek public assistance?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

No, Sir. My right hon. Friend sees no reason for a poster dealing specially with this class of case.

Mr. Whiteley

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the Unemployment Assistance Board have agreed to accept this principle, and, in order to prevent men having to apply for public assistance, would it not be much better to intimate that this should be done?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

The view of the Board is that the problem arising from the practice of some employers of keeping wages in hand is a matter for industry, and that it should not be encouraged at the expense of public funds.

Mr. Whiteley

I have got a letter in my possession, in which the Durham County Council refer to this idea and the suggestion is that notice should be taken of it.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I should be interested to see that correspondence, but the view that I have given is the view of the Board.

20. Mr. Graham White

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can state, as on the last convenient date, the number of applications received by the Unemployment Assistance Board for supplementary allowances in respect of the waiting period; and the number of cases in which such allowances have been granted?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

During the five weeks ended 29th April, 1939, 12,758 persons serving waiting days made application for unemployment allowances in the period before their unemployment benefit pay day, and in 8,902 cases an allowance was granted.