§ Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKasked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to a resolution passed by the Nottingham board of guardians asking for the suspension of Memorandum U.I. 563, as it has already caused an increase in applications for relief, thus placing what is a national obligation upon the ratepayers; and whether he will consider the advisability of suspending Memorandum U.I. 563?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDI would refer my Noble Friend to the reply on this matter given yesterday to the hon. Member for Nottingham West (Mr. Hay (lay), of which I am sending him a copy.
§ Mr. BARNESasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that a number of unemployed men in East Hare who took part in Monday's demonstration to Hyde Park asked to be excused from signing the register on that day and were refused permission; and will he state to the House whether it is his intention to stop their day's pay on this account?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDI do not think I should be justified in excusing signature in these cases and accordingly, benefit will not be payable for the day in question.
§ Mr. CECIL WILSONasked the Minister of Labour the total amount paid for unemployment benefit during the 1567W years 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923 and 1924 what sums have in each year been contributed by insured persons, employers and the State, respectively; and what sums have been paid by the trade unions in unemployment benefit?
— Benefit. Contributions. Direct (by Employment Exchanges, &c.) Indirect (through Associations under Section 17 of the 1920 Ace). Total. Employers. Employed Persons. Service Departments (Section 11). Ex-chequer. Total. £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ 1919–20 869,124 139,702 1,009,126 1,521,626 1,521,626 Nil 912,701 3,955,953 1920–21 30,113,070 4,005,125 34,118,195 4,972,930 4,972,930 1,357,315 2,168,039 13,471,814 1921–22 45,174,415 7,673,799 52,848,214 16,032,709 14,313,306 820,260 11,057,901* 42,224,176 1922–23 38,831,481 3,019,351 41,880,832 17,663,640 15,897,275 443,659 12,166,266 46,170,840 1923–24 33,658,586 2,312,825 35,971,411 19,283,065 17,351,758 273,472 13,184,784 50,096,079 148,646,976 17,180,802 165,827,778 59,473,970 54,059,895 2,894,706 39,490,291 155,918,862 * State Grant for 15 months. As regards unemployment benefit paid by trade unions, information is not avail able for all unions, but among trade unions in Great Britain, registered under the Trade Union Acts, comprising over four-fifths of the aggregate membership of all unions, statistics showing the income and the expenditure on various forms of benefit, including unemployment and travelling, and emigration benefit, are published in a statistical summary compiled by the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member.