§ Captain W. BENNasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that, owing to the necessity for sending certain forms from the local Employment Exchanges to London, delays of five or six weeks occur in payment of unemployment benefits to applicants; and whether, if such forms are returned stating that nothing stands to the applicant's credit, any appeal from this decision is possible?
§ Dr. MACNAMARADelays of the extent suggested are altogether an exception. The form in question is in the great majority of cases returned in time for the authorisation of any benefit payable to the claimant on the first pay day on which it would be due. Further, the authorisation of uneovenanted benefit (which is the benefit payable to the large majority of claimants) does not depend on this form, but may proceed independently. Unavoidable delay takes place in certain eases, for example, where the particulars supplied by the claimant do not agree with the particulars originally furnished on his entry into insurance, or where he has not returned an expired unemployment book. I will, however, have in-2478W quiries made in any particular case brought to my notice. In regard to the latter part of the question, if benefit is refused on the ground that nothing stands to his credit, the applicant has the usual right of appeal to a Court of Referees.