§ Mr. CLYNESasked the President of the Board of Trade whether recent decisions which have excluded workmen insured under Part II of the National Insurance Act in Rochdale, Oldham, and other towns, from receiving unemployment benefit for periods classed as holiday weeks are contrary to previous practice: are the decisions authorised by any terms in the Act or by regulation; and in cases where, owing to trade depression, workshop holidays are extended beyond the usual time, is there any intention to disqualify men for the time lost beyond the customary holiday period?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANIt has been the practice since the end of July, 1913, to regard recognised holidays as not being periods of unemployment in the case of the workmen on holiday, and this practice has been confirmed by decisions of the Umpire, with whom the final determination rests. Where the recognised holidays are extended owing to trade depression the additional days thus lost are treated as days of unemployment. I should also explain that where a workman is discharged, as distinct from being suspended, at or before the commencement of a recognised holiday, he is treated as being unemployed.