HL Deb 23 December 1920 vol 39 cc898-9

Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.

THE CIVIL LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (THE EARL OF ONSLOW)

My Lords, this Bill is a short measure to modify the Unemployment Act which your Lordships passed in the month of August this year. Under Section 44 of that Act no persons can obtain insurance benefit unless they have been employed during four weeks and have paid four weeks' contributions. That Act came into force on November 8 last, and those who were brought into insurance by that Act and who could not qualify since that date, November 8, are not eligible for benefit. It was found that owing to the depression in trade there were a great number of people out of employment who could not get unemployment benefit because they had not been employed since November 8. It is therefore proposed to put back the date of this Bill to July 4 last. None of those who are brought into insurance by the new Act could have paid their contributions between July 4 and November 8. Therefore all that is required by the Act is evidence of engagement. The selection of the date, July 4, has been made because that is the date of the issue of the half-yearly health insurance card. The stamps on the cards will be accepted as evidence of engagement.

In addition to the July 4 provision there is another provision. It has been found that there are some deserving of unemployment benefit who yet have been unable, through no fault of their own, to qualify for it between July 4 and the present date. Therefore a provision has been inserted in the Bill which gives an opportunity to those who have been employed in one of the trades now covered during ten separate weeks of the current year to become eligible for unemployment benefit. The measure, as your Lordships will see, is a purely temporary one, and comes to an end on March 31, 1921. The limitation to March 31 was put in on account of the fact that the donations now granted to ex-Service men are limited to that date. It will also be observed that the proviso is qualified by the fact that it is not to apply to any person entitled to receive out-of-work donation—that is to say, it does not apply to ex-Service men in receipt of that donation.

Moved, That the Bill be now read 2ª.—(The Earl of Onslow.)

LORD ASKWITH

Can the noble Earl say whether any estimate has been made of the amount that this Bill will cost?

THE EARL OF ONSLOW

I think that matter was dealt with in the House of Commons by the Minister of Labour, but I will let my noble friend know later if possible.

On Question, Bill read 2ª and, Standing Order No. XXXIX. having been suspended, committed to a Committee of the Whole House forthwith.

House in Committee accordingly: Bill reported without amendment.

House resumed.

THE EARL OF ONSLOW

I beg to move that this Report be now received, and in a doing so I am able to tell my noble friend Lord Askwith that it is very difficult to estimate the cost of this Bill. It may possibly be £1,000,000, but there will be no charge upon the Treasury, as the money will come out of the Unemployment Fund.

Moved, That the Report be now received. —(The Earl of Onslow.)

On Question, Motion agreed to.

Bill read 3ª, and passed.