10. Miss Rathboneasked the Minister of Labour whether, in considering claims for unemployment assistance from insured persons, information is obtained as to whether benefit has been stopped on the ground of unreasonable refusal to accept an offer of employment; where this is so, does the fact debar the applicant from unemployment assistance or influence the amount granted; and is any record kept of the number of such cases?
§ Mr. E. BrownI am informed that it is the practice of the Board's officers, in cases where an application for assistance is received from a person whose unemployment benefit has been stopped, to ascertain from the local office of the Ministry of Labour and National Service the reason for the stoppage. Where the bene- 291 fit has been stopped on the ground of unreasonable refusal of an offer of suitable employment, assistance is not necessarily refused, but the amount of any allowance granted may be adjusted in the light of all the circumstances of the individual case. The Board's policy in this matter is explained on page 29–30 of their Annual Report for 1937. With regard to the last part of the Question, no record is kept of the number of such cases.
Miss RathboneAm I right in thinking that where it is a question of statutory benefit, the benefit is always stopped in case of unreasonable refusal, and does the reply indicate that people who apply for unemployment assistance are in a more favourable position than people who apply for benefit?
§ Mr. BrownNot at all. There is statutory machinery for those on benefit, and that machinery operates in every case, with a right of appeal. Where assistance is given, the amount may be adjusted in the light of all the circumstances of the individual case.