§ Mr. Parkerasked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to the treatment of Mr. L. Keppel, of Southend-on-Sea, by the Unemployment Assistance Board under which he received no allowance for three weeks as a result of taking employment for a week, and was, therefore, financially much worse off than if he had not worked at 1083W all; and as this policy of the Unemployment Assistance Board will have the result of deterring unemployed persons from taking short-time employment he will take steps to alter a policy with such undesirable consequences?
§ Mr. E. BrownI am informed by the Board that Mr. Keppel received 60s. for employment for the seven days ending 21st August. His allowance of 15s. was withheld on 19th and 26th August so that he received 30s. more in wages than he would have received from the Board if he had done no work at all. In the circumstances I cannot agree that any question of deterring a person from taking work arises.