§ Mr. STEPHENasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour what steps he proposes to take to abolish the gap under the Unemployment Insurance Act; and what he proposes to do in the meantime to obviate the distress among the many thousands of people on the gap and in consequence in absolute want?
§ Mr. BETTERTONThe "gap," which is of three weeks' duration, is a provision laid down by Act of Parliament, and cannot be abolished without legislation. The gap does not apply to covenanted benefit, and only those who have drawn uncovenanted benefit continuously from 18th October onwards are at present affected by it. After the gap a further 14 weeks of uncovenanted benefit is available.