§ 32. Mr. G. M. Thomsonasked the Minister of Labour what notification he has received of short-time working in the cash register industry in Dundee; how many people are affected; and if he will give details of their entitlement to unemployment benefit.
§ Mr. GreenI understand that from 6th July, 3,300 workers will lose one day's work a week. Subject to the normal rules, they will be entitled to unemployment benefit for any day on which work and earnings are lost.
§ Mr. ThomsonI thank the hon. Gentleman for that reply, but is he aware that this short-time working is causing considerable hardship, particularly at the holiday period? Is he aware that anomalies appear to have arisen in the, payment of unemployment benefit to those working on short time? Will he instruct his officers in Dundee to do everything possible to see that the benefit is paid to as many as possible?
§ Mr. GreenI am sure that that will be done. I did speak of the normal rules, and I am quite sure that those will be promptly and punctually operated.
§ Sir J. DuncanIs the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the reason for the short-time working is that the Chancellor of the Exchequer is still thinking of going over to decimal currency; and that nobody will buy these cash registers if they think that we shall not stay on sterling? Will my hon. Friend ask the Chancellor to make up his mind quickly?
§ Mr. GreenI do not doubt that that is a factor, but I am sure that my hon. Friend would not wish a large general problem to be resolved by reference to one particular problem.