§ Mr. SIMMONDSasked the Minister of Labour whether in view of the importance which many contributors attach to the question, he will invite the opinion of the Unemployment Advisory Committee regarding the possibility of granting a capital sum on an annuity from the Unemployment Insurance Fund to contributors whose claims have been small and who have ceased work on reaching an age of 65 or 70?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADProposals of this kind have been considered on various occasions. They were definitely rejected by the Blanesburgh Committee in 1927 and their adoption was not recommended by the Royal Commission on Unemployment Insurance in 1932. The objections to arrangements of this kind in an unemployment insurance scheme are summarised on pages 17 and 18 of the Royal Commission's Report. In these circumstances my right hon. Friend is not satisfied that the question could usefully be re-opened.