§ Mr. BONWICKasked the Minister of Labour if Mr. Fred West, of Burton, Chippenham, Wilts, having reached the age of 60, made application in May last to be repaid out of the unemployment fund the amount to which he is entitled; why he has not yet received the amount; and when he may expect to receive it?
§ Sir M. BARLOWI have had inquiry made and am informed this claim has now been settled.
§ Mr. SHORTasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the unemployed who are entitled to benefit under the Unemployed Insurance Act, and who take their benefit through the agency of the Tipton Labour Exchange, Dudley Port, have to stand in a queue in the open; and whether he will make an improvement, thus obviating this humiliation and risk to health?
§ Sir M. BARLOWI have made inquiry and find that the applicants at this2978W Exchange were timed to attend in hourly groups. There was not room inside the Exchange for the whole of an hourly group, and the congestion was increased owing to applicants attending before the proper time. Half-hourly groups have now been introduced, and if applicants will refrain from attending too early, there should no longer be any need for them to wait outside.
§ Mr. R. MURRAYasked the Minister of Labour whether, having regard to the fact that large numbers of registered unemployed persons have to travel distances of four miles and upwards between their homes and the Employment Exchanges, he can see his way to pay travelling expenses to those who have to travel more than one mile or, alternatively, have branch Exchanges established wherever necessary to reduce this hardship?
§ Sir M. BARLOWI have no power to pay travelling expenses in these cases, branch offices are already established within convenient reach of each considerable group of insured persons, and if any large number became unemployed at a place at which there is no branch office, special arrangements are made as far as practicable for dealing with them. Beyond this I am afraid I cannot go, and I do not think the existing arrangements are unreasonable.
§ Mr. A. T. DAVIESasked the Minister of Labour whether he has considered the working of the present systems whereby a proportion of the weekly allowance of the unemployment insurance pay is given to unemployed men and women who work one or two days a week and no proportional allowance is made to unemployed who work three days or more a week; and, if so, has it been found possible to meet the latter cases sympathetically with a view to encouraging these workers and benefiting national output?
§ Sir M. BARLOWAs I informed the hon. Member on 29th November, the rules in this connection cannot be altered without legislation, but the whole question is being examined, and I am pressing the matter.