HC Deb 23 April 1923 vol 163 c71W
Sir J. LEIGH

asked the Minister of Health whether, seeing that unemployed men registered at Employment Exchanges as belonging to a particular trade or calling are prohibited by the officials from accepting other work which may be available, although willing to take it, and by this means are compelled to remain unemployed and to continue to receive unemployment pay, he will take steps to put an end to this state of things and enable an unemployed man to take any work he can get and is willing to do?

Mr. BETTERTON

I am not aware of any foundation for the allegation that men registered at Employment Exchanges are prohibited from accepting any form of employment which they wish to undertake. On the contrary, the function of the Exchanges is to bring all available vacancies to the notice of persons on the register and to submit for those vacancies the persons who appear to be best qualified to fill them.