HC Deb 25 July 1939 vol 350 cc1281-2W
Mr. Parker

asked the Minister of Labour whether it is proposed to take advantage of the large surplus in the Unemployment Insurance Fund to improve benefits, especially for dependent children?

Mr. E. Brown

The total balance of the Unemployment Fund is now about £50,000,000, but in view of the necessity for keeping large reserves this cannot properly be described as a surplus. It will be for the Unemployment Insurance Statutory Committee to decide whether there is a disposable surplus when they next consider the financial condition of the fund and to make recommendations for the application of any such surplus as they may declare.