§ Mr. BAKERasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Mr. Herbert Rogers attended at Victoria Street Employment Exchange, Bristol, on the 18th instant in the endeavour to secure unemployment pay for an applicant who accompanied him; that the committee consisted of two persons and that, although a list of firms was produced to whom application had been made for employment, the only member of the rota committee who spoke said that he would never accept such evidence, on the ground that it was possible to compile such a list without having applied for work at the addresses named; and whether, although this applicant was not entitled to benefit on other grounds, he will protect unemployed workmen from such treatment and take steps to revise the rules governing the conduct of rota committees?
§ Mr. SHAWI was not aware of the case referred to by my hon. Friend, but I am having enquiries made, and will communicate the result to him as early as possible.
§ Mr. MURRELLasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that Mr. W. W. Capper, of 77, Strode Road, Clevedon, Somerset, late sergeant, 1900 Military Provost Staff Corps, No. 5,771, 13th Hussars, and No. 4,372, 4th Hussars, was two years in hospital under treatment for neurasthenia due to service; that he was given 15 months' training, which has proved insufficient; that in February, 1922, he was awarded a final weekly allowance of 13s. for 35 weeks in respect of himself, his wife and four children; that he is unable to undertake work offered by the Clevedon branch Employment Exchange, but has received no unemployment benefit either on Friday, 11th July, or Friday, 18th July, although he supplied a doctor's certificate; and that 2408W his wife and five children have had to apply for parish relief last Saturday, 19th July; and what steps he will take to deal with this case?
§ Mr. SHAWI have no information with regard to the first and third parts of the question except that I understand Mr. Capper was under treatment at a pensions hospital for one year and seven months after demobilisation, and that his disablement pension was terminated some time ago. He received 15 months' training under the Ministry of Labour in 1922–23, and no previous complaint that his training was insufficient has been received. There is no record of his having refused work offered by the Exchange. As regards unemployment benefit, Mr. Capper renewed his claim on 7th July, and medical evidence that he was then capable of work was required. This occasioned some delay, but the claim has since been admitted and payment was made on 25th July.