§ 40. Mr. T. Brownasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what action he will take on the Report, issued in July, 1953, Command Paper No. 8894, by the National Insurance Advisory Committee in accordance with Section 41 (3) of the National Insurance Act, 1946, on the availability question; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PeakeI have not yet come to any conclusions about the recommendations made by the Committee in the Report to which the hon. Member refers.
§ Mr. BrownOught not the Department to be in a position to indicate what policy they intend to pursue? In view of the fact that the Report on this very important question of increasing our manpower, was presented to the House four months ago, does the Minister think it reasonable that the Government still have no policy to implement the Report? Will he speed up the matter?
§ Mr. PeakeThis is a very highly technical question. I invited hon. Members in all quarters of the House, and particularly hon. Members opposite, to send me their views upon it when we debated it last July. I have not yet received any representations in accordance with that invitation.
§ Mr. BrownShould not the policy of the Minister's Department be submitted to the House? The Report was issued by the Advisory Committee, to whom recommendations were made, and they have embodied those recommendations in the Report.
§ Mr. PeakeThe hon. Member probably knows that the procedure would be, if regulations were contemplated, that I would submit them to the National Insurance Advisory Committee.
§ Mr. BlytonIs the Minister aware that we hope he does not arrive at any conclusions on this question of availability, because this matter smacks very much of the not-genuinely-seeking work clause of long ago?