HC Deb 13 July 1965 vol 716 cc282-4

Mr. Maurice Edelman (by Private Notice) asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether she is aware that a large number of workers of the Standard Motor Company, Coventry, are deprived of any unemployment benefit for time lost due to stoppage of work over which they have no control; and what action she has taken.

The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance (Mr. Norman Pentland)

If my hon. Friend has in mind the stoppage which took place at the end of May and beginning of June, the present position is that decisions on test claims for unemployment benefit have been given covering nearly all those who lost work during the dispute. No appeals have yet been lodged.

If, however, my hon. Friend is referring to the stoppage which began yesterday, very few people have so far claimed benefit, and there has not yet been time for any claims to be decided.

As my hon. Friend will know, the trade dispute disqualification provisions in Section 13 of the National Insurance Act are to be examined by the Royal Commission on Trade Unions and Employers' Associations.

Mr. Edelman

Is my hon. Friend aware that in the meantime a deep sense of grievance and injustice is felt by many workers at the anomalies which are occurring in the application of unemployment benefit? Is he aware, for example, that in one case a man working side by side on the same motor car with other workers in the same union was denied benefit while his colleagues received it?

Will my hon. Friend look carefully into the matter and see whether these anomalies are widespread, and what he can do to alleviate hardship in cases where workers are disallowed benefit when they have no responsibility for the strike in which they are involved?

Mr. Pentland

I can quite understand my hon. Friend's concern in this matter. My right hon. Friend and I are fully aware of all the problems that can stem from the trade dispute disqualification. Indeed, I myself on more than one occasion in my working life have been affected by the trade dispute disqualification. It was because we were aware of the problem and of the hardship that could stem from this disqualification that we were pleased, following our consultations with the Minister of Labour, to find that it was possible to confirm that the trade dispute disqualification was within the purview of the Royal Commission.

I can assure my hon. Friend that it is within the Royal Commission's terms of reference, and that the Commission is seeking evidence on this disqualification. I must further advise my hon. Friend that decisions on benefit claims are entirely in the province of the adjudicating authorities, and that my right hon. Friend has no power at all to comment on or intervene in any way in their decisions.

Mr. Buchan

While recognising that this is a question which should be left to the Commission, as he has suggested, may I ask my hon. Friend whether he is aware that in the meantime, not only in Coventry but in many other areas, the anomalies are so apparent and the injustices and hardships are so great, that it would assist if he would consider taking emergency measures, as has been done in this Session of Parliament with reference to other affairs, to widen this disqualification?

Mr. Pentland

It is for the reasons which my hon. Friend has enlarged upon that we have now decided to send the matter to the Royal Commission. My right hon. Friend has considered this matter thoroughly. She has examined every aspect and has not been able to find a solution to the problem. I might add that this is an extremely complicated subject, as every hon. Member knows.

Under previous Labour Governments, Ministers of Labour and Ministers of Pensions and National Insurance attempted to find a formula by which they could overcome these difficulties, but they were unable to do so and no solution was found. However, we are determined to do all we can in this matter, and that is the reason why it has gone to the Royal Commission.