§ 5. Mr. Carmichaelasked the Minister of National Insurance the number of persons, men and women, signing the unemployment registers at Parkhead and Bridgeton employment exchanges, Glasgow, who are excluded from standard benefit and are being paid a sum lower than the standard rate through the medium of the Assistance Board at the latest known date; and why a means test is operating against those unfortunate enough to have this lengthy period of unemployment.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of National Insurance (Mr. Steele)I regret that these statistics are not available in the form asked for in the first part of the Question. I am, however, circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table giving figures of the numbers of persons at these exchanges receiving standard and extended benefit, and unemployment assistance, respectively, on 20th October, 1947. As regards the second part of the Question, the persons in receipt of assistance represented just over 10 per cent. of the total numbers involved. They include those temporarily disqualified for standard benefit, and those ineligible for extended benefit, or for whom a grant of extended benefit has not been recommended by the local tribunal under Regulations 4 and 5 of the Extension of Unemployment Benefit Regulations, 1946.
§ Following are the figures:
| GLASGOW. | ||||
| — | Parkhead. | Bridgeton. | ||
| Men. | Women. | Men. | Women. | |
| Standard Benefit. | 1,075 | 770 | 1,100 | 250 |
| Extended Benefit. | 317 | 270 | 647 | 113 |
| Unemployment Assistance. | 165 | 30 | 366 | 13 |
| Total | 1,557 | 1,070 | 2,113 | 376 |