§ Mr. CARR-GOMMasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the fact that employed contributors under Part II. of the National Insurance Act whose cards are forwarded to the central Labour Exchange offices from the local Labour Exchange after the expiration of six days' unemployment, do not in some cases receive unemployment benefit until they have been out of work for twenty or twenty-one days, owing to the fact that the books of the local exchange are not made up on the Wednesday of each week for payment on Friday, and that if the cards are not returned to the local exchange by Wednesday no payment is made until the Friday of the following week; and whether he will take steps to remedy this state of affairs?
§ Mr. BURNSPayment of benefit is made on Friday at the Labour Exchanges in respect of unemployment up to and including the preceding Wednesday. So far from the books being closed on the Wednesday, payment is made on authorities to pay which arrive on Friday in time for payment. There have undoubtedly been delays due to the pressure at which the work has been performed from time to time (e.g.,, in London on the occasion of the building trade dispute), and there must be some delay where a claim is disputed. I am not aware that apart from such 1966W special causes delays of the length mentioned by my hon. Friend occur, but if he will give me any specific instance I shall be happy to make inquiries.