§ Mr. LANSBURYasked the Minister of Labour the reason why Alfred Davey, of 35, Candy Street Bow, and Charles Baker, of 39, Rippoth Road, Bow, have been refused unemployment benefit by the Hackney Employment Exchange; and is he aware that both these men have been engaged on seasonal work in the district; that men in a similar position have been paid benefit; and that these men, when appeasing before the Committee, have been asked no questions at all but their age, and then told to go away?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDI am having inquiries made into these case and will let the hon. Member know the result as soon as possible.
§ Mr. LANSBURYasked the Minister of Labour the reason why the following women are refused unemployment benefit 2153W at the Stepney Employment Exchange: B. Toledans, A. Sosskin, M. Bedso, M. Bass, E. Cohen, S. Bloomstein, R. Hollas, P. Barnett, F. Shapiro, C. Saunders, Mrs. J. Annett, K. Moscovitch, S. Shimofsky, F Keil, B. Simons, M. Goldstein, D. Swan, P. Freeman, and R. Waller; the number of years each of these persons have been paying into the fund; the amount of unemployment pay they have each received; and on what evidence they have been told they are not genuinely seeking work?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDI am already investigating a number of apparently similar cases about which the hon. Member asked in two recent questions. While I am anxious to make inquiry into all cases which hon. Members think it right to bring to my notice, I am bound to bear in mind that detailed reports on individual cases impose a severe strain on an administration already hard pressed, and therefore ought not to be called for without adequate cause. When I have ascertained whether the cases already in hand disclose some ground of complaint, I will consider whether I should be justified in ordering inquiry into the further cases now quoted.
§ Mr. MACLEANasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Donald J. Forbes, 17, Ure Street, Govan, has been refused benefit by a committee at the Govan Employment Exchange on the ground that it is not expedient in the public interest to pay benefit; that Forbes has, worked from May, 1925, to 15th January, 1926; that the basis for the committee's decision is that the stamps for the period of employment mentioned are considered as not qualifying for standard benefit but as cancelling a previous period of benefit paid to him; and that this decision is in conflict with the statutory conditions laid down for the receipt of benefit in the Unemployment Insurance Acts; and whether he will take steps to stop this violation of the Acts and instruct benefit qualified for to be paid?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDI am having inquiries made into this case, and will let the hon. Member know the result as soon as possible.
§ Mr. MACLEANasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Mrs. Jamieson, 488, Springburn Road, 2154W Glasgow, was refused the unemployment benefit due to her son, Alexander Moncur, when she presented Forms U.I. 88 and 477 at the Finnieston Employment Exchange, Glasgow; that Alexander Moncur had obtained an immediate situation on 25th July, 1925, and when his mother called for his benefit she was told the money was there but she must get her son's signature on the above-mentioned forms; that, owing to the varied course of the ships on which he sailed, the papers were not received by him until early this month and immediately returned by him; and that the grounds of refusal are that benefit has been disallowed by a committee; and whether he will have this case investigated and the benefit outstanding at the date of his securing employment paid?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDI am having inquiries made into this case, and will let the hon. Member know the result as soon as possible.