§ Sir M. Galpernasked the Secretary of State for Employment in view of the fact that employees who are suspended from work consequent on the inability of their employers to offer employment as a result of the state of emergency are denied unemployment benefit for the first three days of unemployment, if he will take steps to ensure that in such cases unemployment benefit is calculated from the first day of unemployment.
§ Sir K. JosephI have been asked to reply.
No. The provision affecting waiting days is statutory and of general application. I do not consider that amending legislation would be justified.