§ Mr. NIELDasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that where trade union branches are held upon licensed premises members entitled to receive unemployment benefit paid under Part II. of the National Insurance Act. 1911, are required to attend daily at such licensed premises to sign the book kept there besides attending at the local Labour Exchange as a condition precedent to their obtaining such unemployment benefit where arrangements have been made between the Board and the trade union under Section 105 of the Act; and whether he will take steps to prevent this practice?
Mr. RUNCIMANThe arrangements with associations under Section 105 of the Act contain a stipulation that the Vacant Book shall be in the charge of a respon-1182W sible person during the hours when it may be signed, but subject to this it rests with the association to select the place at which the Vacant Book is kept. The Board of Trade are at all times prepared to allow the book to be kept at a Labour Exchange, and this is done in the majority of cases.