§ Mr. SHORTasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that the unemployment benefit of William Elwell, Little Hill, Church Street, Wednesbury, was stopped over a month ago; whether the manager of the Employment Exchange at Wednesbury acted on receipt of an unsigned letter; and if he will state when the investigations will be completed so that Elwell may again receive benefit or be put in possession of the evidence upon which his benefit has been disallowed?
§ Sir M. BARLOWI am making inquiries locally, and will communicate the result to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that Mr. G. M. Bates, of Swinton, near Rotherham, has received no unemployment pay since 11th November, 1922; that he applied for work at 28 firms in January, 1923, but was unsuccessful; that the names of these firms have been sent to the Mexborough Employment Exchange, who refuse to re-open the case; and will he have inquiries made with a view to re-instating this man's unemployment pay?
§ Sir M. BARLOWI am having inquiries made into this case, and will communicate the result to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. SHORTasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the unemployment benefit of J. E. Holder, 1, Horton Street, Darlaston, was recently disallowed on the ground that he was not endeavouring to find employment; that he stated he could produce satisfactory evidence that he had been seeking work, but the committee declined to adjourn the consideration of the case pending this evidence being produced; and whether, seeing that Holder has now produced letters from well-established firms proving his statement, he will have this case reconsidered?
§ Sir M. BARLOWI am having inquiries made into this case, and will communicate the result to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. MACLEANasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Edward Dobson has been refused benefit on the ground that he is not genuinely seeking employment, and that he produced certificates 2387W from various firms where he had applied for work; whether this man was informed by the exchange officials that he cannot be credited with looking for work unless he gets not more than six weeks' continuous employment; and whether he will take steps to have payment of benefit restored?
§ Sir M. BARLOWI shall be glad to have enquiries made into this case if the hon. Member can furnish me with the address of the applicant and the exchange at which he is claiming benefit.
§ Mr. MACLEANasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that James W. M'Roree, 167, Queen Street, Govan, who was employed by Harland and Wolff for three years, and was paid off on 23rd October, 1922, has been refused further benefit on the ground that he has three sisters who are working; and that this man's father is also unemployed; and whether he will take steps to have benefit paid?
§ Sir M. BARLOWI am having inquiries made into this case, and will communicate the result to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. MACLEANasked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed persons who have been refused benefit at the Govan Employment Exchange on the ground that they are not genuinely seeking employment, during the months of January, February, March, and April, respectively?
§ Sir M. BARLOWThe number of persons refused uncovenanted benefit at the Govan Employment Exchange in the months mentioned on the grounds of not genuinely seeking employment are as follows:
January … … … 20 February … … … 35 March … … … 166 April … … … 163
§ Mr. GAVAN DUFFYasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that the unemployment benefit due to Edward Carpenter, 35, Millom Road, Millom, has been suspended on the ground that he is not unemployed and that the sole ground for this pretext is the fact that he and his wife each week sell 25 dozen copies of the "Millom Gazette" and eight dozen copies of the "West Cumberland Labour Gazette," their joint earnings 2388W being 10s. 6d. per week; whether he is aware that this man, when in constant work, had the agency for the "Millom Gazette"; and what are the reasons for the suspension of his unemployment benefit?
§ Sir M. BARLOWI am making inquiries locally, and will communicate the result to the hon. Member.