§ Mr. W. THORNEasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that the authorities at the Employment Exchange at 451, East India Dock Road, E.14, have refused to pay benefit to W. H. Pestill, who resides at 29, Woodside Road, Plaistow, E.13; if he is aware that the man in question was employed at the India Rubber Gutta Percha Company, Limited, as clerk from 2nd October, 1908, until 22nd July, 1922, and was then stood off on account of 1404W slackness of work; that he was taken on at the same firm in July, 1923, for three months, and was again put off for slackness of work; that in March, 1924, he was given work for a month at Messrs. Piggott as a painter's labourer; that later on this man was employed by W. Shanley as head collector until 26th September, 1925, and has been promised work again; and that his claim for unemployment benefit was disallowed; and, seeing that Mr. Pestill is 61 years of age and is a strong, healthy man quite willing to undertake any kind of work offered him, if he can give any reasons why the man's benefit was disallowed?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDI am making inquiries into this case and will let the hon. Member know the result as soon as possible.
§ Mr. PARKINSONasked the Minister of Labour how many miners have made application for extended benefits in Lancashire and Wigan, respectively, during the months of this year, respectively; and how many have been rejected in each month?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDI regret that this information could only be obtained by a detailed investigation, the cost of which is prohibitive.