§ Mr. W. THORNEasked the Minister of Labour (1) if he is aware that the West Ham Board of Guardians view with alarm the proposals to reduce the rate of unemployment benefit to 15s. per week for men and 12s. for women, in view of their knowledge of the large increase in out-door relief such a reduction would involve; that up to the present time the guardians have been called upon to expend a sum of £147,710 in relief and wages to the unemployed; that at the present time the cost of out-relief in the union to all classes is exceeding £9,000 per week or at a rate of very nearly £500,000 per annum; and that if the guardians in deciding upon the amount of relief to be given in each particular case deduct the amount of insurance benefit received, the reduction in such benefit will mean an increase in the out-relief by the amount of such reduction and will mean relief to the Unemployment Fund at the expense of the local rates; if he will take action in the matter;
(2) If he is aware that about 1,500 branches belonging to the National Union of General Workers have protested against the proposals to reduce the rate of unemployment pay to 15s. for men and 12s. for women; that members belonging to other trade unions view with alarm the proposals of the Government; and if he will take action in the matter?
§ Sir M. BARLOWFor the reasons stated by my right hon. Friend on the Second Reading of the Unemployment Insurance Bill on Wednesday last, we can hold out no hope of maintaining the existing rates of unemployment benefit.