§ Sir G. COLLINSasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the difficulty which men and women who are genuinely seeking employment experience in obtaining satisfactory evidence that they are genuinely seeking employment; and if he proposes to make further Employment Exchange Regulations to avoid this hardship?
§ Mr. SHAWIn accordance, with the terms of the Act the requirement is that the local employment committee should be satisfied that the applicant is genuinely seeking whole-time employment. The local employment committees ordinarily act through rota committees, which in practice have to form their own judgment on the point after interviewing the applicant. These rotas almost always contain a representative or representatives of workpeople, and not infrequently consist solely of workpeople's representatives. I have received a number of complaints of the refusal of benefit on this ground, and am taking steps to look into the matter personally, but I have not so far discovered any evidence that the refusals of benefit are unjustified in any material number of cases. If the hon. Member will furnish me with details of608W any cases of hardship known to him it will help me in my inquiries, as it is difficult to investigate general statements.