§ 22. Sir H. Oakshottasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance why the claims to unemployment benefit of certain workers, of whom details have been sent to him and who are out of employment because of the ship-repairing dispute on Merseyside, have been disallowed.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterBecause the local tribunal has ruled that payment of unemployment benefit to the men concerned would be contrary to the provisions of Section 13 of the National Insurance Act, 1946. I am writing to my hon. Friend about this case.
§ Sir H. OakshottDoes not my right hon. Friend think that it is a rather extraordinary situation that men who are in no way parties to the dispute but who, because of it, and through no fault of their own, are out of work should be denied unemployment benefit? Will he look into the matter again to see if something cannot be done to help these people?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterIt is not for me to comment on the decision of independent statutory authorities from whom, of course, as my hon. Friend is aware, an appeal lies, if it is desired to take it, to the National Insurance Commissioners. I would add, however, that it appears that the local tribunal took the view that in this case, which involves a demarcation dispute, my hon. Friend's constituents were directly interested in the result of that demarcation dispute. It is not for me to comment, but that is the reason, I understand, which weighed with the tribunal.