§ Mr. MACQUISTENasked the Minister of Labour what is the purchasing power of unemployment benefit for men at the present time as compared with its purchasing power in December, 1920?
§ Miss BONDFIELDBetween 1st December, 1920 and 1st May, 1930, the level of the cost-of-living (according to the statistics published in the Ministry of Labour Gazette) changed in the ratio of 269 to 155. There is, however, some element of seasonal change involved in a comparison of December and May. If the average cost-of-living figures for the beginning of each of the six months December, 1920, to May, 1921, is compared with the corresponding average for December, 1929, to May, 1930, the change in the level of the cost-of-living is in the ratio of 248 to 162. In December, 1920, the rate of benefit for a man was 15s. a week, and there was no dependants benefit. At present, the rate of benefit is 17s. a week for a man, with 9s. a week for an adult dependant, and
2570W
CLAIMS TO BENEFIT made, and Claims to Benefit Disallowed on certain grounds, in the Glasgow Area. Employment Exchange Area. Total number of fresh and renewal claims made 10th March to 12th May, 1930. Number of claims disallowed between 13th March and 12th May, 1930, by Courts of Referees. Less than 8 contributions in previous two years or 30 at any time. Not normally insurable. Total. Glasgow Central … … 7,951 37 1,301 1,338 Glasgow South Side … … 12,910 17,130 332 1,543 1,875 Rutberglen … … … 2,172 Cambuslang … … … 2,048 Bridgeton … … … 12,751 14 1,801 1,815 Finnieston … … … 4,643 52 372 424 Govan … … … … 7,259 79 413 492 Kinning Park … … … 4,131 95 161 256 Maryhill … … … 5,884 89 562 651 Parkhead … … … 7,003 — 720 720 Partick … … … … 5,900 24 477 501 Springburn … … … 6,807 7,521 48 492 540 Kirkintilloch … … 714 Total … … … 80,173 770 7,842 8,612 2s. a week in respect of each dependant child under the age of 14.
§ Captain P. MACDONALDasked the Minister of Labour in what cases unemployment benefit is paid other than from offices permanently used as Employment Exchanges; and in such cases to what uses are the buildings normally put?
§ Miss BONDFIELDExcluding payments through associations, the cases of this kind are those where, owing to abnormal pressure, payment is made at buildings temporaily hired for the purpose, or, in a small number of instances, at the establishments at which work-people on short-time are employed. In the former class of cases the buildings are frequently halls of various kinds ordinarily used for religious or social purposes, but almost every variety of building is represented.
§ Mr. BUCHANANasked the Minister of Labour the number of persons who made a claim for benefit under the conditions of the recent Act at each Exchange in Glasgow and the number refused as not being normally in insurable employment.
§ Miss BONDFIELD, pursuant to her reply (OFFICIAL REPORT, 5th June, 1930; col. 2405, Vol. 239), supplied the following statement: