§ Sir F. SYKESasked the Minister of Labour if he will state, in respect to comparable periods of the respective years 1923 and 1924, how many cases have been reported to his Department of persons in receipt of unemployment benefit refusing proffered employment; and in how many of such cases in each respective period has payment of further unemployment benefit been discontinued after investigation?
§ Mr. SHAWThe following are the figures for the first six months of 1923 and 1924, respectively, with regard to the number of cases referred to the Chief Insurance Officer for a decision whether benefit should be disallowed on account of refusal of apparently suitable employment, together with figures showing the results of appeals to the courts of referees and the umpire:
The figures refer to the number of cases and not necessarily to separate individuals. Disallowance of benefit on the 2270W ground of refusal of suitable employment operates, in accordance with the statutory provision for a period not exceeding six weeks and not less than one week.
Decisions by Chief Insurance Officer: January to June, 1923. 1924. Benefit allowed 1,588 4,748 Benefit disallowed 26,151 25,405 Recommendations by Court of Referees: Benefit allowed 3,055 3,489 Benefit disallowed 7,243 6,407 Decisions by Umpire: Benefit allowed 122 Not available. Benefit disallowed 421