§ Mr. WILLIAM THORNEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the British Westinghouse Company at Trafford Park, Manchester, are closing the works for ten days; and if he can state whether the men who are prevented from going to work for the ten days will be entitled to sign on at Labour Exchanges as being out of work?
Mr. ROBERTSONI have received no information as to the proposed closing of the works in question. As my hon. Friend is aware, the decision as to whether unemployment benefit is payable under Part II. of the Act rests ultimately with the Umpire appointed thereunder, and I am therefore unable to state definitely whether benefit will be payable in respect of claims made in the circumstances set out in the question. I am, however, disposed to think that unemployment benefit would not be payable to men who are merely taking the recognised holiday of the trade or district or firm in which they are employed, but that it would be payable where, for reasons of production, the employer closes his works and suspends the staff without wages temporarily, on days other than the recognised holidays.