§ Mr. FORRESTasked the Minister of Labour the amount of unemployment benefit paid out to colliery deputies, examiners, and firemen in each of the years since the Unemployment Insurance Act embracing them came into operation; what amount of weekly payments they have made in this period; and whether any payment has been made to any of them in respect of unemployment benefit during the present dispute?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDThere are no statistics available from which the information desired by the hon. Member could be obtained.
1090W
§ Mr. FORRESTasked the Minister of Labour (1) the respective numbers of deputies, examiners, and firemen affected by the refusal of unemployment benefit on the ground that some of their members are connected with miners' organisations; how many of these members are so connected; and what is the percentage of these men to the aggregate number in their grades;
(2), whether the umpire, in dealing with the case of the deputies, examiners, and firemen, has admitted that he did not have the full figures; whether there is any instance of any umpire having reconsidered his decision, in view of later information being laid before him; and who is responsible for an umpire receiving a full and detailed statement on any case on which he is asked to decide?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDI regret that I have not the figures asked for in the first question. As regards the second question, the umpire has power to revise a decision on new facts being brought to his knowledge, and he has exercised this power on a number of occasions. It is, of course, for the parties concerned to see that the umpire is furnished with a full statement of their case and of the necessary evidence in support of it. I understand that in dealing with the claims of the deputies the umpire was furnished with information by the Deputies, Examiners and Firemen's Association, which has appeared before him on several occasions.