§ Mr. HURDasked the Minister of Labour the estimated effect of the Unemployment Insurance Bill upon the staffing and expenditure of his Department and upon the staffing and expenditure of local authorities?
§ Mr. BETTERTONThe change proposed in the Unemployment Insurance Bill under which Courts of Referees will take over the work now done, to a large extent, by local employment committees in connection with disputed claims to benefit will involve increased expense by way of chairmen's fees and otherwise which it is provisionally estimated may amount to £200,000 a year, with the present level of unemployment. So far as regards the administration of the Unemployment Insurance Scheme generally, the proposals in the Bill will necessitate646W some strengthening of some grades of the staff. It is, however, hoped to effect concurrent economies by simplification of procedure.