§ 4. Mr. Chapmanasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the reason for the delay in payment of benefit for short-time working to employees in the motor industry and for dates between 9th and 30th March; and when this money will be paid.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterMy right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service is not aware of any delay in paying benefit due to motor car workers who claimed benefit during the period mentioned. Delayed claims for these days are, I understand, still coming in, and are being dealt with in the ordinary way.
§ Mr. ChapmanIs the Minister aware that the men are to some extent under a misunderstanding? They understand that' benefit between these two dates is a disputed claim and that the National Insurance office is turning them down. Will the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance to the contrary?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThe Question relates to payment of benefits for short-time worked by employees in the motor industry generally, that is, I understand, in respect of all firms in all towns. Certainly I could not answer "off the cuff" the wider question which the hon. Member has asked, but I think the confusion which has arisen in the district with which he is particularly concerned is that advance notice of claim was quite properly given by the union at an earlier stage but the actual claims by the men on which payment is made are in many cases only coming in since the Birmingham tribunal decision.