§ 10. Mr. J. Griffithsasked the Minister of Labour the approximate cost of granting to unemployed persons an extra week's benefit or allowance; and if he will consider the desirability of granting such extra benefit and allowances to the unemployed in the first week in August, to enable them and their dependants to enjoy some of the advantages of the holiday season?
§ Mr. E. BrownI regret that without more precise particulars of what the hon. Member has in mind, I cannot estimate the cost of his proposal. The present legislation does not give power to grant such extra benefit and allowances and I could not undertake to seek power to carry out such a proposal as a part of unemployment insurance or assistance provisions.
§ Mr. GriffithsIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware of the widespread feeling in the country that some extra benefit should be paid to those who have been unemployed for long periods, and will he consider the matter?
§ Mr. BrownI have noted the fact more than once, but the hon. Member asks that a particular solution should be made.
§ Mr. George GriffithsIs it not possible for the Minister to make regulations in regard to this matter as he does on other matters?
§ Mr. J. GriffithsWill the Minister consult the Unemployment Assistance Board?
§ 19. Mr. Loganasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the representations made by the Liverpool and London Distillers, Limited, in regard to the voluntary pensions granted by this firm to employés discharged owing to reorganisation, that part of their unemployment benefit is being deducted because of these pension grants; and will he take action to end this and also return to the men the deductions made?
§ Mr. BrownI assume that the hon. Member's question relates to unemployment assistance. I am informed by the Board that they have not been able to trace any application from a person in receipt of a pension from the firm in question. If such an application is received some part of the pension—the precise amount must necessarily depend on the circumstances—would, in accordance with the Board's usual practice, normally be allowed for the recipient's personal requirements. Where however, 2418 the amount of the pension is clearly such as to provide entirely for the maintenance of the recipient and his dependants, it would not be possible for the Board to regard the applicant as being in need.
§ Mr. LoganDoes the right hon. Gentleman say that his Department knows nothing about the Liverpool and London Distillers, Limited? Is he aware that I have been informed that communications have been sent to the Ministry of Labour in regard to these men who are having deductions made from their unemployment benefit on account of these pensions? If the right hon. Gentleman has no information on the subject, will he have inquiries made?
§ Mr. BrownI do not think it is possible. There is no test in connection with payments of this kind.
§ Mr. LoganMay I ask whether the Minister is prepared, in the case of voluntary pensions, to see that those pensions are protected and that there are no deductions from the unemployment benefit?
§ Mr. BrownThe hon. Gentleman must be under a misapprehension I have pointed out to him that there is no possibility of a deduction in that case.
§ Mr. LoganOn a point of Order. If the Minister says he is not aware, surely if I know— [Interruption.]
§ Mr. Speaker rose—
§ 25. Mr. George Hallasked the Minister of Labour the number of applicants for allowances under the Unemployment Assistance Board who have no resources; the number whose resources are small and are disregarded; and the number who themselves, or other members of the households, have resources sufficient to be taken into account for means test by the Board?
§ Mr. BrownThe most recent information regarding the resources of applicants for unemployment assistance and their households relates to the position in October, 1938, and is summarised on page 64 of the report of the Unemployment Assistance Board for 1938 (Cd. 6021). More detailed information is given in Appendices VI and VII (pages 195–197) of that report
§ 26. Mr. Hallasked the Minister of Labour whether he will give the resources of applicants and their households applying for assistance from the Unemployment Assistance Board, made up of earnings, unemployment benefit, old age pensions, widows' and orphans' pensions, disability pensions; poor relief, workmen's compensation, National Health Insurance, reserve pay, maintenance and affiliation orders given at the courts, giving the total and each item separately?
§ Mr. BrownAs the reply contains a number of figures I will, if I may, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. HallIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this information was given in the Annual Report for 1937, and will he instruct the Board to give this information in annual reports in future?
§ Mr. HallWill the right hon. Gentleman state now whether widows' and orphans' pensions, disability pensions, poor relief and workmen's compensation, are taken into consideration for the purpose of reducing the amount of allowances for applicants under the Unemployment Assistance Board?
§ Mr. BrownThe hon. Member will see the figures for each category in the tabulated statement I am circulating.
§ Following is the reply:
§ Estimates based on a 5 per cent, sample of cases current on 7th October, 1938, are as follow:
| £ | |
| Earnings (including casual earnings of applicants) | 13,157,600 |
| Unemployment Insurance Benefit | 1,691,900 |
| Old age, widows', orphans' and blind persons' pensions | 1.457,700 |
| Disability and dependant's pensions | 1,079,700 |
| Outdoor relief | 752,200 |
| Workmen's compensation | 143,000 |
| National Health Insurance Benefit | 284,600 |
| Maintenance and affiliation orders | 79,500 |
| Service and service dependants' pensions | 178,800 |
| Superannuation | 57,900 |
| Voluntary allowances | 166,100 |
| Profit from boarders and sub-lets | 138,900 |
| Increase from capital, savings, property, etc. | 61,800 |
| Miscellaneous | 170,000 |
| 19,419,700 |