HC Deb 09 April 1936 vol 310 cc2962-3W
Mr. SEXTON

asked the Minister of Labour whether, owing to the hardships caused by the six waiting days before coming into benefit under the Unemployment Insurance Act, the Government intends, in the near future, to shorten the waiting period to not more than three days?

Mr. E. BROWN

The Unemployment Insurance Statutory Committee dealt with this matter when they examined the financial condition of the Unemployment Fund at the end of 1935. They reported to me that it appeared to most of them that there was no ground for regarding the abolition or reduction of the waiting time as a change for which any urgency can be claimed. They recommended rather that the disposable surplus of the fund should be used to reduce contributions, and this course was approved yesterday by the House.