Mr. KINGasked the President of the Board of Trade whether a worker insured in a trade union against unemployment, who has hitherto been able to draw unemployment pay when unable to obtain work in his own trade, will retain this right under Part II. of the National Insurance Bill; whether a non-unionist seeking unemployment benefit through a labour 2328W exchange will have a corresponding right; and, if so, by whom will that right be determined?
Mr. BUXTONNothing in the Bill impairs any right of a member of a trade union to draw unemployment pay from his union in accordance with the rules of that union. Under Clause 106 of the Bill the trade union will be able to obtain periodically a refund of a portion of its expenditure on unemployment pay. Broadly speaking, the amount so refunded will be the equivalent of the sum to which the members of the union would have been entitled under the rules of the fund if no arrangement with the union had been made, and any question arising as to the amount of the refund twill be settled by the umpire. The rights of workmen (other than trade unionists drawing their unemployment pay through their union) to unemployment benefit under the scheme are set out in Clauses 84 and 86 to 88 of the Bill. These rights are determined in the first instance by an insurance officer, with an appeal against his refusal to grant benefit to a Court of Referees, and (in certain cases) to the umpire.