§ Mr. KENNEDYasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that cases are occurring of men employed upon relief work being unable to obtain the full rate of pay of competent workmen in consequence of the failure of the local Employment Exchange to help in substantiating their claims; that at Letch-worth, for instance, a man named Grant was for five years working as a navvy, but prior to the period of unemployment which led up to the relief work served for 18 months as labourer in a foundry; that being now registered as an engineer's labourer he is unable to obtain the navvy's rate on relief work although he was formerly registered as a navvy; and whether he will issue instructions to the Employment Exchanges that in such cases the necessary evidence is to be supplied to the local authority?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe Exchange will on request supply any evidence in their possession and I am not aware that480W they have failed to do so. They cannot, however, relieve the workman of the responsibility for substantiating his claim. In the particular case of Grant I am informed that the Exchange has no evidence that he was ever employed as a navvy.