§ Mr. Gallacherasked the Minister of National Insurance if he is aware that Mr. H. Byard, Upper Cwmbran, Monmouthshire, has been refused unemployment benefit since 20th April, 1946, on the ground that he is following a subsidiary occupation; that he has employed a married daughter who is not resident with him and that the court referee has refused to take into account in assessing his earnings the amount paid to such an employee; and if he will arrange for unemployment benefit to be restored to Mr. Byard.
§ Mr. J. GriffithsAs the hon. Member is aware, decisions on claims for unemployment benefit are made by the statutory authorities appointed under the Unemployment Insurance Acts. The decision in this case appears to depend on the amount of the profits which Mr. Byard derives from a public-house of which he is stated to be the licensee. Further inquiries are in progress to ascertain whether there is any ground for an appeal from the decision of the court of referees to the umpire. I will write to the hon. Member in due course.