§ Mr. MYERSasked the Minister of Labour whether, under the Regulations made in pursuance of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1911, where a Court of Referees recommended payment of unemployment benefit, and the recommendation was referred by the Insurance Officer to the Umpire, the claimant was entitled automatically to receive payment pending the Umpire's decision; whether, under the Regulations now in force, payment is not made unless the Court of Referees make a specific recommendation to that effect; and, if so, the authority for this alteration in the Regulaions?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe National Insurance Acts, 1911 to 1919, and the Regulations made thereunder, which provided for the automatic payment of bene- 2181W fit pending the Umpire's decision, were repealed by the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1920, and the Regulation which provides that an insured contributor shall receive unemployment benefit pending the decision of the Umpire, if the Court of Referees so recommends, was made under the latter Act.
§ Sir R. THOMASasked the Minister of Labour how many married women, and how many single women, are drawing unemployment pay who were old enough for, but were not actually in, employment before the War; and whether, before grants are made, inquiries are instituted as to the private means of such persons?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe total number of women of 18 years or over who were wholly unemployed and drawing unemployment benefit on 10th June was 468,022. There were in addition 304,022 women on short time. I cannot say how many of the women are married or how many were old enough for, but were not actually in employment before the War. The Unemployment Insurance Acts do not make the possession of private means a disqualification for the receipt of unemployment benefit, and no inquiries are made as to claimants' means.