§ Mr. RHYS DAVIESasked the Minister of Labour what factors govern the number of days unemployed persons are called upon to sign on at the Employment Exchanges; and the reasons for a distinction being made between males and females in this connection in any particular exchange?
§ Miss BONDFIELDThe frequency of attendance of unemployed persons to sign the Register is governed by Regulations made under the Unemployment Insurance Acts and depends mainly on the distance between their places of residence and the nearest local office. The number of persons claiming benefit at a local office and1742W the extent of accommodation available may render necessary adjustments of the usual number of attendances of either male or female applicants. In this way it may happen that at times male applicants are signing less frequently than female applicants at the same local office, and vice versa.
§ Mr. RHYS DAVIESasked the Minister of Labour if she is aware that some women are required to travel an average of about 20 miles per week to sign on at the Westhoughton Employment Exchange on five days a week, and that this practice does not give much time for them to seek employment; and, if so, will she take steps to reduce the number of days for signing on in this case.
§ Mr. LAWSONI have communicated with my hon. Friend on this matter.
§ Mr. RHYS DAVIESasked the Minister of Labour the number of signing-on days for males and females, respectively, at the following Exchanges: Aspull, Bolton, Blackrod, Hindley, Horwich, Leigh, Westhoughton, Wigan; and if there is a variation in the number will she state the reason why?
§ Miss BONDFIELDpursuant to her reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 20th February, 1930, col. 1552, Vol. 235] supplied the following information: The number of days a week on which signature of the Unemployed Register is required in the case of wholly unemployed men and women residing less than two miles from the local offices referred to is as follows:
Number of Days. Local Office. Men. Women. Aspull … 2 2 Bolton … 2 2 Blackrod … 3 3 Hindley … 3 3 Horwich … 3 3 Leigh … 2 2 Westhoughton … 3 5* Wigan … 2 2 * This number is being reduced to 4. The normal requirement of the regulations is daily attendance. The difference in the number of days on which signature is required is due to the varying degrees of pressure of work at the local offices.