Mr. T. THOMSONasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that many of the workers in the ironstone mines of Cleveland, who are only working halftime, are refused all unemployment benefit owing to the mines working 1693W alternate days instead of alternate weeks; that the requirements of the blast furnaces supplied by these mines make it impossible for the mines to work alternate weeks; under these circumstances will he authorise the payment of benefit if it can be arranged for the mines to work the first three, or the last three, days in each week; and if the Act will not permit this, will he introduce an amending Act, so that workers who are only employed for half the working days in each month may receive the benefits for which they have paid and to which they are now entitled if at work alternate weeks instead of alternate days?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThere is no power under the Unemployment Insurance Acts to pay unemployment benefit in the case of workers who are unemployed on alternate days or on alternate periods of three days. As my hon. Friend is no doubt aware, benefit may be payable to persons unemployed on alternate periods of two days. The operation of the present rule governing the payment of benefit in cases of intermittent unemployment is being carefully examined in the Department, but I can give no undertaking with regard to the legislation which would be necessary to effect any change.