§ Mr. CLYNESasked the President of the Board of Trade whether workmen who for a time have had to pay for unemployment benefit under Part II. of the National Insurance Act, and who have later been declared to be outside an insured trade, are entitled to have their payments returned to them; and if so, how?
Mr. BUXTONIn cases where contributions have been paid under Part II. of the National Insurance Act, and the Umpire has subsequently decided that such contributions are not payable, application for a refund of such contribution will be entertained by the Board of Trade. These applications must be made on the prescribed forms, which are obtainable at any Labour Exchange or other local office of the Unemployment Fund.
§ Mr. CLYNESasked the President of the-Board of Trade whether he can take steps, to ascertain the cost incurred in administration charges by trade unions who have newly provided an unemployment benefit for their members to permit of their being: able to also receive the State unemployment benefit through the union; and whether, in view of the expense to some unions, he will consider the fairness of some financial relief for the expenses involved in meeting the requirements of the Act?
Mr. BUXTONAs was pointed out in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Dundee, on 23rd October, the Board have no power to make any direct payment on account of administration expenses in cases such as those to which my hon. Friend refers, but an association making an arrangement of this kind can obtain from the State an additional refund under Section 106. This provision was intended to cover any increase in the association's cost of administration, and I have no reason to think that it is insufficient for the purpose.