§ Mr. DEVLINasked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to a public meeting recently held in Belfast. to protest against the reduction of the unemployment donation to discharged and demobilised soldiers and sailors, and the discontinuance of the out-of-work grant to civilians; whether he is aware that the vast majority of the workers in the mills and factories in Belfast now out of employment are women workers, who are either on short time or unemployed because of shortage of raw materials in the mills brought about by war conditions; and whether, having regard to the hardships they are enduring owing to conditions over which they have no control, he will consider the advisability of having the unemployment donation paid to these women workers and also increase the payment to discharged sailors and soldiers?
§ Sir R. HORNEI have received a copy of the resolution passed at the meeting to which the hon. Member refers. With regard to civilian workers, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given in the House on 26th November to the hon. Member for the Victoria Division of Belfast As regards ex-members of His Majesty's forces, the extension of donation recently granted at a reduced rate does not reduce the number of weeks of donation which may be drawn at the higher rate. I cannot hold out any hope that either of these rates will be increased.