§ Captain NORTHasked the Minister of Labour if he can give some explanation of the entry in Command Paper 17 showing that between 1st April, 1930, and 31st March, 1931, the sum of £44,762 was paid in error in respect of unemployment benefit?
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§ Sir H. BETTERTONThe sum of £44,762 is the amount recorded in the financial year 1930–31 in respect of benefit paid in excess of the amount properly due under the Unemployment Insurance Acts. In the same period the sum of £22,268 (part of £22,479 shown in Paper 17) was recovered in respect of benefit paid in error. Of the £44,762 overpaid, about £29,000 was due to revised decisions given by the statutory authorities consequent upon new facts coming to light. The remainder was due to errors on the part of officers of the Department. These figures should be considered in relation to the total amount of benefit paid in the year, namely, £92,289,145.