Lieut.-Colonel THORNEasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that many thousands of foundry labourers are prevented from continuing their work because of the iron founders' strike; if he is aware that they are disqualified from receiving donation pay of State unemployment under Part II. of the National Insurance Act whilst others, equally prevented from continuing their own work in another department of the same firm are granted one of the above benefits; if he is aware that skilled men who are being put off are put on the unemployment benefit; and if he can give the reason why some men are being paid out-of-work donation and the foundry labourers refused payment?
§ Sir R. HORNEThe rule applicable in tiffs connection is that laid down by Parliament in the Unemployment Insurance Acts. The effect of this rule is that all the workpeople employed in a foundry in which the moulders are on strike are disqualified for donation, while generally speaking the workpeople employed in the other departments of the engineering establishment concerned are not disqualified on account of the moulders' strike. The interpretation of the rule in individual cases does not rest with the Department, but with the Courts of Referees and the Umpire, whose decision is final.