§ Mr. JOWETTasked the Postmaster-General if the clerks employed at the Labour Exchange divisional office in Bow Street have been working late for weeks past, including Saturdays, and if they have now been informed that they would have to work on Sunda5rs as well?
Mr. BUXTONIt has been impossible to avoid a considerable amount of overtime work in the preliminary administration of unemployment insurance, and the very heavy work in connection with the first batch of claims to benefit has recently necessitated a certain amount of late attendance on Saturdays and, I regret to say, also on Sundays. I may explain that, while under normal conditions, the staff will only have to deal with claims for benefit as and when the applicants fall out of employment, the claims at the outset have necessarily included a very much larger number of persons who were unemployed before the date at which benefit began to be payable. This state of things is quite exceptional and temporary, and I can assure my hon. Friend that every effort is being and will be made to reduce overtime within the narrowest possible limits. I take this opportunity of expressing my appreciation of the zeal and devotion of the staff in trying circumstances.
§ Sir HILDRED CARLILEasked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state on what grounds the National Insurance Commissioners have decided to pay 7s. a week unemployed benefit in the engineering, 430W shipbuilding, and construction of vehicles trades, but only 6s. a week for this benefit in the house-building and works of construction trades, the contributions in all of these trades being at the same rate?
Mr. BUXTONMy right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question as unemployed insurance is administered by the Board of Trade and not by the Insurance Commissioners. There is no such differentiation as is referred to by the hon. Member, the rate of benefit being 7s. per week for adults in each of the insured trades.