§ Mr. R. YOUNGasked the Minister of Labour the number of friendly societies, co-operative societies, and other organisations who have made application for permission to pay unemployment benefit in accordance with the provisions of the National Insurance Act, 1920; and of these, how many, respectively, are now approved societies for the purpose of paying unemployment benefit?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAApplications for arrangements under Section 17 of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1920, have been received from 366 trade unions and 42 other societies, none of which are cooperative societies. Arrangements are in operation with 188 trade unions and 20 other societies. As regards the balance of 200 applications, 16 resulted in arrangements which were subsequently cancelled by the association concerned; in 92 cases arrangements have been approved, but not yet been put into operation; in 65 cases the applications are still under consideration; and 27 applications have been withdrawn.
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§ Mr. T. GRIFFITHSasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that William Redden and Lewis Davies, of Pontypool, members of the All Together Union, applied for work under the Pontypool Parks Committee; that, as the district rate for labourers is 2s. 1d. per hour, and the Parks Committee only offered 1s. 6½d. per hour, the two men did not accept the employment; that the two men were subsequently refused their unemployment benefit; that the matter, was referred to the Court of Referees without the men being notified to appear; and whether he will have this case reconsider in the light of the provisions of the Act?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI am making in quiries into this case, and will let my hon. Friend know the result as soon as possible. I should add that it is one of the rules of procedure for Courts of Referees that the applicant and the branch secretary of any association through which he is claiming benefit shall receive at least 24 hours notice of the time and place of hearing before the Court.