§ Sir R. Glynasked the Minister of Labour whether, in consultation with the Home Secretary, he can devise some method whereby the insurance cards of Irish workers normally resident in Eire can be marked, in order to provide some check upon the growing habit of Irish workers obtaining employment in the United Kingdom and holding the position long enough to qualify for benefit and then surrendering their work to another Irishman who, in turn, acts in the same manner; and whether there are any statistics under the existing system to indicate the number of Irish workers drawing benefit?
§ Mr. E. BrownI have no evidence of the practice referred to by my hon. Friend nor am I clear as to the check he has in mind. A person is disqualified for receiving benefit if he leaves his employ-
Employment at Corsham near Bath during six months ended 31st March, 1939. Exchange. Number of men invited to apply for work. Number of men who applied. Number of men who refused to apply. Number of men who refused to apply who were disallowed benefit by Courts of Referees. Number of men who proceeded to work. Note: The following further men are proceeding to work this week. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) Tonypandy … 205 119 86 21 26 26 Porth … 40 6 34 — 3 3 Ferndale … 32 31 1 — 20 5 Treorchy … 83 74 9 1 8 1 360 230 130 22 57 35 So far as can be ascertained one applicant had his unemployment allowance discontinued for a period in consequence of refusal of this work.