HC Deb 26 April 1922 vol 153 cc568-9W
Mr. MYERS

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to the case of H. Crowther, of Leeds, who in June, 1921, was granted unemployment benefit for 12 weeks only on the ground that he had not. made every effort to obtain employment; whether he is aware that the applicant was only before the local Employment Committee for about three minutes, and that the Committee came to their decision in spite of the fact that he produced evidence that from the end of March, 1921, until the end of May, 1921, he had been continually replying to advertisements and making personal applications for employment; and whether, in order to remove any sense of grievance, he will give instructions that this case shall be further investigated?

Dr. MACNAMARA

As a result of representations made by the trade union to which Mr. Crowther belongs, his claim has been considered by the duly authorised Kota Committee of the Local Employment Committee on five occasions between 11th May and 24th November, 1921. At one of the hearings, on 13th June last, he was represented by the district organiser of his trade union. The Committee on each occasion came to the same conclusion, namely, that benefit should only be granted for 12 weeks, and in the circumstances I am not prepared to re-open the case.