HC Deb 12 May 1948 vol 450 cc2129-30

Lords Amendment: In page 5, line 11, after "not" insert: where regulations of the Board so provide, apply until the expiration of such time from the beginning of the engagement as may be prescribed by the regulations. (2) The last foregoing Subsection shall not.

Mr. Steele

I beg to move, "That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment."

This Amendment is designed to overcome a difficulty incidental to the general principle of the Clause that assistance is not to be granted to a person in respect of any period during which he is in full-time work. The difficulty arises from the general presumption that assistance is granted in advance, whereas wages are paid in arrear. I will give an illustration. Assistance to able-bodied persons is often paid on Fridays. A man who is starting full-time work on a Monday cannot expect to draw any wages until the following Saturday. If the man is maintained by assistance during his unemployment it is desirable, therefore, that he should receive a full week's assistance on the Friday before he starts work. As the assistance must be presumed to be paid in advance, the period for which the assistance is paid would be, at any rate in part, a period during which the man is in full-time work. The assistance would thus contravene the provisions of the Clause as at present drafted.

Lieut.-Colonel Elliot

I understand it is hoped to secure this end by means of regulations and that the Government believe that this rather complicated matter can be dealt with on that basis. It is, so to speak, a payment in advance, and the man is deemed to be a fit subject for relief until he has been in work for a full week. I understand this Amendment was passed in another place without Debate. This seems a satisfactory way of dealing with this admittedly complicated problem. We shall be interested to see the regulations and trust that the Minister will be able to let us have a copy. If he can do so in advance it will be helpful.

Mrs. Braddock (Liverpool, Exchange)

Can the Parliamentary Secretary explain the position of the man whose employer keeps a week's wages in hand? In many cases a person who commences work after receiving unemployment pay and public assistance has to work a week in hand, so does not obtain any payment for a fortnight. What will be the position of such a man?

Mr. Steele

That is the kind of situation this Amendment is designed to meet.

Question put, and agreed to.