§ Mr. WINDSORasked the Minister of Labour whether any recent instruction has been issued to the local employment committees prescribing the period that is required to satisfy the statutory condition as to a reasonable period of insurable employment during the two years immediately preceding the date of application for State unemployment benefit; if he is aware that persons when they have exhausted their standard benefit are being refused extended benefit on this ground; and if, in view of the continued serious condition of unemployment, he will see that this condition is retained and is not restricted?
§ Mr. BETTERTONThe condition is statutory and I have no power to restrict it. No instruction such as that suggested has been issued: the directions for the guidance of committees on this point state that "no definite period of employment can be prescribed" and emphasise that each case must be dealt with on its merits.