Mr. T. THOMSONasked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the representations which have been made to him as to the hardships inflicted on some insured persons, and the added burden thrown on to the local rates in certain areas by the operation of the recent revised Regulations as to the payment of extended benefit, he is now prepared to modify the same?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDThis matter was fully discussed in the Debate on 9th March, and for reasons which I then gave I am afraid I cannot relax the requirement.
§ Miss WILKINSONasked the Minister of Labour how many persons did not apply for outstanding benefit in the quarter ending 14th January; whether any instructions have been issued to officers not to invite persons to apply for moneys due to them; and whether he will in future request officers of the Exchanges to acquaint applicants of their rights under the Act in this respect?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDStatistics with regard to the amount of benefit outstanding and unpaid are not available. It is the practice to pay such benefit on the next attendance of the applicant during the current benefit year. After the end of the benefit year, the claim has to be closed and sent to the Claims and Record Office, Kew, and payment is not made in the absence of express application. The instruction to which the hon. Member refers relates to claims which have been closed and sent to Kew, but I may say generally that it is not the practice to give notice to applicants who have failed to attend for their benefit that an amount is due to them, and I am afraid that it would throw a quite undue burden on the Exchanges to ask them to do this. It is not unreasonable, I think, to expect applicants to attend and claim their benefit.