§ Mr. SPOORasked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the action of the local employment committee, 92, Uxbridge Road, Shepherd's Bush, in withdrawing unemployment benefit from Mrs. Jessie E. Gates on the ground that she was a married woman not normally in employment; whether he is aware that her husband was discharged from the Army in 1915 with no pension and suffering from tuberculosis; that he is consequently unable to work regularly; and that his wife has been for some time compelled to work in order to supplement the family income; and whether he will take steps to have this injustice remedied?
§ Sir R. HORNEIt is now the practice for claims to out-of-work donation made by married women to be scrutinised by the local employment committee, which is a body consisting in the main of representatives of local employers and employed, in order that they may be satisfied that the applicant is normally in employment, is genuinely seeking work and is unable to obtain it. In accordance with this procedure, Mrs. Gates claim came before the local employment committee, which, after interviewing her, decided to recommend that further donation should not be paid. On the information before me, I see no reason to differ from the conclusion reached by the committee. If, however, it is contended that there are any relevant facts which have not been brought already to the notice of the committee, I shall be glad, on being furnished with a statement of these facts, to consider whether there is ground for asking the committee to rehear the case.