§ Mr. GARRO-JONESasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that navigational and engineering officers of the mercantine marine taking advantage of temporary unemployment to qualify themselves, by training, for employment in higher grades are at some Employment Exchanges being refused unemployment benefit on the ground that they are not available for work; and whether he will take steps to have such men brought within the scope of the benefit regulations at all ports?
§ Mr. E. BROWNIn cases of the kind referred to the question of eligibility for benefit depends on whether the applicant remains available for work, and this has to be decided by the statutory machinery. The circumstances of particular cases no doubt differ, but I am not aware that the same principles are not applied to all cases. If the hon. Member has any evidence to the contrary I shall be glad to make inquiry.