§ Major LANE-FOXasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that, owing to the strike of the boilermakers' society, many of the semi-skilled and unskilled workers in the shipyards at Selby and other north country towns are out of work through no fault of their own; 788W whether many of these men are recently discharged from the Army but are debarred from receiving any out-of-work donations owing to their unemployment being due to a trade dispute entered into by other men in a branch of their trade; and whether, under the circumstances, he can secure for these men the relief granted to other recently demobilised men?
§ Mr. WARDLEThe rule is that out-of-work donation is, with certain limited exceptions, not payable to workmen who have lost employment by reason of a stoppage of work which was due to a trade dispute at the factory, workshop or premises at which they were employed. As my right hon. Friend will appreciate, the application of out-of-work donation to the cases of workmen whose unemployment is due to a trade dispute raises very controversial questions, and the rule above-quoted represents a compromise reached in this House during the passage of the National Insurance Act, 1911. In these circumstances the Minister does not see his way to modify the rule in favour of particular classes of workmen.
§ Mr. ROSEasked the Minister of Labour whether he has received any complaints from Arbroath regarding the administration of the out-of-work donations; whether he is aware that in a number of recent cases which were referred to the Court of Referees the men concerned did not receive notice to attend until shortly before the time fixed for the hearing, that in one case the notice was not delivered until after the Court had sat, and that in a number of For far cases the men concerned received their notices about an hour before the sitting of the Court, and then had to travel 15 miles to Arbroath; whether he is also aware that the men had to wait outside until their cases were reached, there being no waiting-room accommodation provided, and, although in four cases payment was approved, when the men presented themselves two days afterwards for payment the Exchange had not received any instructions; that a number of For far cases were adjourned on a plea by the appeals officer that there were special circumstances attached to these claims, but no attempt was made to explain what these special circumstances were, and the men had to return to For far without their cases having been dealt with; and whether he will institute an inquiry into the whole matter without delay?
789W
§ Mr. WARDLEI have caused inquiries to be made, and find that, owing to pressure of work and postal delays, the notices to attend the meeting of the Court of Referees did not reach the claimants until within an hour or two of the hearing. Arrangements have been made to ensure that in future longer notice shall be given. By reason of the limited accommodation in the Arbroath Employment Exchange it was not possible to provide a waiting room for the first meeting there, but such accommodation was provided for subsequent meetings. I regret that, owing to a misunderstanding, the instructions relative to the payment of interim donation in the cases in which the claims were allowed were not forwarded immediately to the Employment Exchange, but this has now been rectified. As regards the adjourned cases, I am informed that no mention of special circumstances was made by the officer concerned.
Lieutenant-Colonel GUINNESSasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the absence of any obligation to return Form U.I. 85 asking for information on disqualifications for an out-of-work donation is causing many employers in Ireland to avoid incurring odium by giving information in the case of those who have left employment through misconduct or without just cause; whether he will take steps to deliver this form by registered post and to make its return obligatory and subject to a penalty for wrong information; and whether he will ensure that until either this form or other satisfactory evidence is received as to the bona fides of each case that out-of-work donations will not be paid?
§ Mr. WARDLEI would refer the hon. Member to the answer to the questions raised by the hon. Member for York yesterday afternoon. There is no power to compel employers to return the form or to impose a special penalty for giving wrong information. Certain modifications of the procedure with regard to Form U.I.85 are under consideration by the Department.