HC Deb 27 June 1960 vol 625 cc935-6
1. Mr. Holland

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many persons lost National Insurance unemployment credits in 1959 owing to their failure to prove their availability for Saturday work.

The Minister of Pensions and National Insurance (Mr. John Boyd-Carpenter)

I regret that ehe information requested is not available.

Mr. Holland

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this qualification does not apply to all who shun Saturday work, but only to those who honestly and frankly declare their intention of so doing? Does not he agree that with the spread of the five-day week in industry and commerce it is high time that this slightly archaic and restrictive qualification was abolished?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

This is not a difficulty that, in practice, generally arises in the case of regular five-day week workers. It arises—as it did in the case with which my hon. Friend is concerned—generally only among part-time workers, and we have very little trouble with it.