§ Sir C. HANSONasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that men working only three days a week, earning anywhere from £5 to £15 for that period, and refraining from labour during the remaining days of the week, are drawing unemployment dole for such days; whether that practice is within the terms of the scheme; whether such is believed to have been the intention of Parliament; and will he take steps to remedy this misapplication of public funds?
§ Sir M. BARLOWCorrespondence has already taken place with the Ministry on the subject matter of this question, and one of the difficulties in the case has been to ascertain the precise fact. I am not aware of any specific case of the kind mentioned. It is not practicable to regulate the payment of Out-of-Work Donation by reference to the amount of wages earned by the applicant when in work. Cases, however, such as those described in the question would be unlikely to occur, because men who voluntarily leave employment or refrain from taking suitable employment when available are not eligible for donation, and there is in any event a waiting period of three (and in some cases six) days before donation becomes payable. My248W right hon. Friend would welcome close cooperation with employer in the locality to avoid the possibility of an applicant obtaining out of work Donation When work is available and would be glad to look in to any specific cases which may be brought to his notice in which there appear to have been abuse of the scheme.