HC Deb 31 July 1931 vol 255 cc2639-40W
Mr. HORE-BELISHA

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will consider the advisability of providing that established employés in His Majesty's dockyards shall be placed in the same position as regard qualification for unemployment insurance on leaving His Majesty's service as the personnel of the fighting services?

Mr. ALEXANDER

Established employés in His Majesty's dockyards are excepted from Unemployment Insurance in accordance with the provisions of the Unemployment Insurance Acts, which except from unemployment insurance all established civilian employés of the Crown. In view of the benefits they enjoy under the Superannuation Acts, I am unable to recommend that the established dockyard employés should be made eligible for unemployment benefit on leaving the service.

Mr. HORE-BELISHA

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will consider the introduction of provisions to ensure that in the event of established employés in His Majesty's dockyards who have qualified for leave with pay being unable to avail themselves of such leave, either by reason of their death or of their being discharged on pension on account of illness, the amount of pay they would have received during such leave shall be paid either to their next of kin or to them as the case may be?

Mr. ALEXANDER

The purpose of leave is to enable employés to enjoy a respite from duty without loss of pay. I am unable to entertain the suggestion that leave may be converted into a payment in lieu.