HC Deb 12 March 1951 vol 485 cc1047-8
19. Sir H. Williams

asked the Minister of National Insurance what unemployment benefit is paid to persons who normally work five days a week and are now only working four days a week owing to shortage of material.

Dr. Summerskill

On the facts stated, two days' benefit would normally be payable provided the claimant does not receive wages for the period in question and is not otherwise disentitled.

Sir H. Williams

Why are people paid two days' benefit for one day's unemployment?

Dr. Summerskill

I should have thought that the hon. Member would have known these rules. This is nothing new. This is common practice, and has been so for many years. The position is that if a man does a normal working week of five days, is unemployed on the fifth day, registers at an exchange and makes himself available for employment for the rest of the week, he is then entitled to two days unemployment benefit.

Sir H. Williams

Do I understand, then, that if a firm works a five-day week with the same number of hours as a firm which works five and a half days, all those who work what they regard as a full five-day week can draw unemployment pay on the Saturday.

Dr. Summerskill

Certainly not. They cannot draw unemployment pay if they have already worked a full week. They can only draw it if they are unemployed on the fifth day of their normal work and are then available for two more days.

Sir H. Williams

Then anyone who works four-fifths of a week is entitled to two days' unemployment benefit? [HON. MEMBERS: "No."] Of course, that is the interpretation.

Mr. C. S. Taylor

To get the answer correctly, may I ask the right hon. Lady whether a man who works only four days through shortage of materials, and so on, is entitled to draw two days' unemployment benefit?

Dr. Summerskill

I have said this three times already. If the man has a normal working week of five days but works only four days, registers at the exchange and then is available for work for the rest of the week but no work is forthcoming, he can then draw unemployment benefit for two days.