Captain TERRELLasked the Minister of Labour the present recorded number of agricultural unemployed workers in South Oxfordshire as compared with the total on the 1st October, 1921; and how many of such men have, in any form, been employed on relief works to date during the present winter?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI am unable to state the number of agricultural workers on the Live Registers of Employment Exchanges in South Oxfordshire, but the total for the whole county at 10th January was 371, compared with 100 at 7th October, 1921. My hon. and gallant Friend will, of course, realise that, as agricultural workers do not register for unemployment benefit, these figures cannot be taken as representing the full extent of unemployment amongst such workers. I cannot say how many of these 371 had been employed on relief works.
Captain TERRELLasked the Minister of Labour the number of cases in South Oxfordshire in which unemployment pay 2136W has been refused in consequence of the applicants, although normally by their occupation entitled to it, having done a few days' work on agriculture, an uninsurable occupation?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAApplicants who are normally employed in insurable work do not become disentitled to benefit merely because of having done a short period of work in agriculture or some other uninsurable occupation If my hon. and gallant Friend will give me particulars of any cases in which it is alleged that such applicants have been refused benefit, I shall be glad to make an inquiry.