§ Mr. WIGNALLasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that many men in the china clay industry in Cornwall are working half-time: that the full-time wages of these men do not exceed £2 per week, and, in consequence, their present earnings are only £1 per week, upon which they have to support their families; and whether, in view of these circumstances, he will reconsider the Regulation whereby men working on short-time are disqualified for unemployment benefit?
§ Sir M. BARLOWThe instructions are that incovenanted benefit should not, as a rule, be recommended by the local employment committees in the case of persons on short-time earning on the average half, or more than half, the normal earnings for a full week. My hon. Friend will see, therefore, that certain discretion is allowed to the committees. I am making inquiry into the cases to which he refers in order to ascertain whether the disallowance of benefit causes substantial hardship.