§ 9. Mr. Archerasked the Minister of Social Security whether she will arrange for the payment of daily unemployment benefit to claimants who normally work a five-day week on the basis of one-fifth of the weekly rate and not one-sixth.
§ Mr. PentlandNo, Sir. Even if this were practicable, the administrative costs would be out of all proportion to the amount of benefit involved for individual claimants.
§ Mr. ArcherWill my hon. Friend consider this again? Does he appreciate that the people concerned are already suffering financial hardship because they are on short time? Is it really a good reason for failing to pay them the proper amount that it is administratively inconvenient to do what is right?
§ Mr. PentlandNo, Sir, not at all. The present rule mainly concerns five-day workers on short-time, and, in the Govment's view, unemployment benefit should be concentrated upon workers who have lost their jobs.