§ 7. Mr. Fosterasked the Minister of Labour if he will consider the granting of an allowance to cover travelling expenses to workpeople who have been directed to employment long distances from home, up to the maximum lodging allowance, in those cases where no agreement exists between the workpeople and employer for travelling allowance.
§ Mr. BevinNo, Sir. The payment of allowances to cover travelling expenses is in general a matter to be negotiated within the industry concerned.
§ Mr. FosterIs my right hon. Friend aware of a case which I have sent to his Department where a workman directed to other employment has to meet travelling expenses amounting to about £39 a year?
§ Mr. BevinIf it is within daily travelling distance the union and the employer ought to negotiate and settle the matter. I cannot undertake to deal with it under the general allowance scheme.
§ Sir Herbert WilliamsSurely if my right hon. Friend directs people to work which involves heavy travelling expenses, it is not fair that he should throw the responsibility on the organised bodies of employers and workpeople?
§ Mr. BevinNo, that does not arise. If the hon. Gentleman had looked at the Question, he would not have asked that supplementary question.
§ Sir H. WilliamsI have looked at the Question. Will the right hon. Gentleman answer my supplementary question?