§ Mr. Finchasked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a statement on the progress of voluntary negotiations in industry to ensure that workers on short-time are adequately provided for, before their entitlement to unemployment benefit lapses in March 1969.
§ Mr. GunterThe purpose of the six days' suspension rule introduced by the National Insurance Act, 1966, was to concentrate higher unemployment benefits on the wholly unemployed. Full implementation of this rule was postponed for three years, until March 1969, to provide a transitional period during which industries could enter into arrangements on a voluntary basis to ensure that workers laid off on short time should enjoy a financial provision to replace that previously provided by social security benefits. I have urged both sides of industry to enter into voluntary negotiations and repeat that it is very desirable that they should do so without delay. I propose to review the position at the end of the year with a view to deciding whether voluntary agreements have adequately covered the ground or whether it will be necessary to introduce legislation for this purpose.