§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the Minister of Labour whether, seeing that pensioners from the Royal Navy, Army, and Air Force are allowed to draw unemployment benefit, whereas no provision is made for similar advantages in respect of pensioner dockyardsmen, he can see his way to propose an amendment of the Unemployment Insurance Act which shall allow pensioner dockyardsmen to receive the same benefits from the unemployment insurance fund as are received by men of the fighting services?
§ Mr. BETTERTONAs I explained in reply to the hon. Member on 29th March last the reason for this distinction is that unemployment insurance contributions are paid in the one case and not in the other. This disability could be removed from established dockyard men by requiring them to pay contributions during their employment, but I am not aware that there is any demand for this on their part.