19. Miss Rathboneasked the Minister of Labour how many insured persons, who have had their benefit stopped owing to refusal of work, are now receiving un- 2103 employment assistance on as high or higher a scale than benefit?
§ Mr. E. BrownI regret that the information asked for is not available.
§ Mr. BrownI could not say. No such record is kept and could not be obtained without combing the whole of the register.
Miss RathboneIs there nothing to prevent a man refusing a job and getting higher U.A.B. assistance without any inquiry as to why he lost the job?
§ Mr. BrownThat is a theoretical question, but I have no reason to think that even if it happened, the number of cases would be considerable.
20. Miss Rathboneasked the Minister of Labour whether he can estimate the extent to which the overlap between wages and unemployment benefit or assistance due to the fact that benefit and assistance are supplemented, as wages are not, by family allowances, will be increased by the higher allowances recently given?