Mr. ALFRED DAVIES (Clitheroe)asked the Minister of Labour whether instructions have been issued to the effect that claims for unemployment benefit by all married men short-time workers with 570W no children dependent upon them are to be disallowed, irrespective of the amount of their earnings; and, if so, if the policy of allowing the local Employment Committees to exercise their discretion in individual cases has now been abandoned?
§ Sir M. BARLOWNo such instruction has been issued. The position in regard to uncovenanted benefit of married men with no children who are working short-time is the same as that of all other short-time workers; that is to say, uncovenanted benefit is not ordinarily payable to such workers if they are earning half or more than half their normal weekly earnings. Local Employment Committees may use their discretion in considering individual eases where the operation of the above rule is likely to involve serious hardship.