§ Mr. BARKERasked the Minister of Labour if he will see that ex-service men on part pension, who are unable to obtain employment after discharge from the Service, are paid unemployment insurance benefit upon application; and is he aware that ex-service men are being refused benefit because they have not paid 20 contributions to the unemployment insurance fund, seeing they have not been able to fulfil the contributory conditions laid down by Section 4 (3) (c) of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1922?
§ Sir M. BARLOWEx-service men, who served during the Great War and have not paid 20 contributions since their discharge from the Forces, can satisfy the requirement of Section 4 (3) (c) of the Act of 1922 if they can show that before their War service they were employed for a reasonable period in an occupation which is now insurable, or that, owing to their youth, they had no opportunity of being so employed. Other ex-service men, if discharged since 31st July, 1920, are credited under Section 41 of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1920, with contributions which satisfy Section 4 (3) (c) referred to. I am not aware that benefit has been refused in any genuine case coming within the provisions of the Acts, but if the hon. Member will send me particulars of any cases he has in mind, I will look into them,