§ Mr. TAYLORasked the Minister of Labour if his department has issued amended regulations or instructions under which employment on relief work organised by local authorities will be held to be qualifying employment for unemployment benefit notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 61 to 64 of L.E.C./82/15; and whether, if such amended regulations or instructions have not been issued, ho can state on what date they will be issued?
§ Mr. W. THORNEasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that men who have been engaged upon relief work under a local authority are denied extended unemployment benefit: will be state the reason for this policy; whether an unemployed man in receipt of unemployment benefit would be disqualified if he refused employment on relief work; and, if so, whether, in view of all the circumstances, he will issue instructions that employment upon relief work shall not prejudice a man's claim to unemployment benefit?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDThe performance of test work, while not disqualifying a man for extended benefit, 619W does not help him to qualify. This is because the performance of such work affords no appreciable evidence of satisfaction of the conditions for extended benefit. This rule does not apply to other forms of what has been termed relief work, such as grant-aided schemes of relief. There has been some misapprehension with regard to existing Directions to Committees upon the subject, and an amending Direction will shortly be issued. Apart from any bearing on the special conditions for extended benefit, the question whether refusal to do relief work would disqualify a man for benefit would be for the Insurance Officer and the Umpire.