HC Deb 25 May 1939 vol 347 c2469
16. Mr. Day

asked the Minister of Labour the number of claims for insurance benefit or unemployment allowance that were considered by the courts of referees in Great Britain for the 12 months ended the last convenient date; giving particulars of how many were granted and/or disallowed?

Mr. E. Brown

During the 12 months ended April, 1939, 491,577 claims for insurance benefit were considered by courts of referees in Great Britain, of which 123,102 were allowed and 368,475 were disallowed. In addition 8,203 claims for dependant's benefit were considered, of which 1,876 were allowed and 6,327 were disallowed. The hon. Member will, of course, recollect that appeals in connection with unemployment assistance allowances are dealt with not by courts of referees but by separate tribunals constituted under the Unemployment Assistance Act.

Mr. Day

Are there any circumstances in which, when these cases are disallowed, the claimant has a right to appeal to the Minister?

Mr. Brown

There is no appeal to the Minister, but of course, there is the right to appeal to the umpire.

Mr. Poole

In view of the fact that only one in four of the claims are successful, does not this show that the tribunal is hardly the most sympathetic body to consider claims of hardship under the Military Training Bill?

Mr. Brown

That is a most unfair conclusion to draw. If one wishes to draw a fair conclusion from these facts, one must take into consideration this proportion as against the total number of claims allowed without an appeal to the referees.