§ Mr. GAVAN - DUFFYasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that unemployment benefit has been refused to Elizabeth McCleary, of Millom, on the ground that she has refused to enter domestic service; that this woman is a trained shorthand-typist with no domestic training, and that even if she had any aptitude for domestic service she would in such service lose the proficiency in shorthand and typing, which it has taken 348W her years to acquire; and will he inquire into the circumstances of this case?
§ Mr. SHAWI have had no previous information regarding this case, but I am having inquiries made, and will communicate the result to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.
§ Mr. GAVAN-DUFFYasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that a dependency benefit under the Unemployment Insurance Act has been refused to John Huddleston, of Millom, in respect of his daughter, who has acted, and is still acting, as his housekeeper; and, having regard to the fact that this daughter has practically mothered the rest of her brothers and sisters since her mother's death, will he state upon what grounds dependency benefits are refused in such cases?
§ Mr. SHAWThis case had not previously been brought to my notice, but I am having inquiries made, and will let my hon. Friend know the result as soon as possible.
§ Mr. STEPHENasked the Minister of Labour the number of applications for benefit since the passing of the new Unemployment Insurance Act and the number of refusals of benefit at the Parkhead, Bridgeton, and South Side Exchanges of Glasgow, and the ground; of refusal?
§ Mr. SHAWThe number of fresh applications for benefit at the Employment Exchanges in question was 19,148 during the period 4th August to 22nd September. Statistics of refusal of benefit are kept only in regard to applications for "extended benefit." During the period 1st August to 8th September, 7,919 such applications were referred to the Local Employment Committee, and of these 716 were rejected. Of the 716 rejections, 266 were on the ground that the applicant was not normally employed in insurable employment; 33 because insurable employment was not likely to be available; 175 because the applicant had not had a reasonable period of insurable employment during the preceding two years, having regard to all the circumstances; 129 because the applicant was not making every reasonable effort to obtain suitable employment or not willing to accept suitable employment; and 113 because of failure to appear at the hearing of the case.
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§ Mr. T. JOHNSTONasked the Minister of Labour if his attention has been drawn to the case of Donald Kennedy, Milton of Campsie, Stirlingshire; if he is aware that this man, though willing and able to work, has been refused insurance benefit on the ground that he is 67 years of age and unlikely to secure other than casual insurable employment; that he has now been driven to the parish council for relief; and if, seeing that Mr. Kennedy is. tall and strong, and that he has not required the attention of a doctor for the past 27 years, he will have this decision reconsidered?
§ Mr. SHAWI regret that I am not at present in a position to add to the information which I have already given my hon. Friend privately, namely, that local Employment Committees cannot see their way to recommend the grant of further benefit, because they are not satisfied that Mr. Kennedy complies with the statutory condition of being normally employed in insurable employment. Further inquiries are, however, in progress, and I will let my hon. Friend know the result.