HC Deb 07 March 1939 vol 344 cc1919-20
75. Mr. W. Joseph Stewart

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that there is great concern amongst non-manual workers in regard to the £250 salary limit for entry into national unemployment insurance; and whether, at an early date, he will seek to introduce a scheme, so as to bring in persons whose salaries range up to a maximum of £500?

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

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 2nd March by my right hon. Friend, to a similar question by the hon. Member for Chester-le-Street (Mr. Lawson).

Mr. Stewart

Will the hon. Gentleman advise his right hon. Friend to go carefully into this question with a view to bringing into unemployment insurance the class of persons set out here and thus give a certain measure of security to large numbers of people, in the event of their becoming unemployed?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

If the hon. Member will look at previous answers on the subject I think he would see that that is exactly what is being done.

Mr. Leslie

Will the Government consider giving effect to the recommendations of the Beveridge Committee and raising the income limit?