asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that, in certain Employment Exchanges when insured persons are stood off benefits for six weeks on an accusation of not having sought genuinely for work or having refused suitable employment and being still unemployed, the Exchange starts counting unemployed time from the end of the six weeks, thus making seven weeks without benefit instead of six weeks; that, if the insured person had been signing for six days before being stood off, then this period is made into eight weeks; and whether this system has his approval?

The position in cases such as those mentioned by my hon. and gallant Friend is under consideration, and I will let him know the result as soon as possible.

Mr. T. THOMSON:

asked the Minister of Labour by what date all benefits begin to be completely exhausted in the current benefit year under The Unemployment Insurance Act, 1923; and what number of insured persons it is estimated will have exhausted all benefit by that date if the present rate of unemployment continues?

The first day on which benefit in the current benefit year may be exhausted is 16th April, for persons to whom the former "gap" of three weeks did not apply, and 7th May for others. If the hon. Member will renew his question in a fortnight's time I hope to be able to give him an estimate of the numbers likely to be affected.

Mr. THOMSON:

As there is little more than a month before the first people become disqualified from further benefit, will the right hon. Gentleman consider bringing in a Measure to extend the benefit, without waiting for the comprehensive Measure that he has promised?

It is the desire of the Minister to introduce his comprehensive Measure soon. Failing the possibility of that, certainly, steps will be taken to introduce a stop-gap Measure.

Will the right hon. Gentleman accelerate the information, as a fortnight is rather a long time to wait when within a month these benefits will lapse?

I am afraid that the resources at my disposal will not give the answer to this question within the time I have stated.

asked the Minister of Labour if he has received any complaints from, the Mersey district or elsewhere of the refusal of officials of Employment Exchanges to pay unemployment benefit or to place to their credit any number of days for which the men were unemployed previous to the beginning of the late strike of dock labourers; what instructions, if any, were issued by the Department in connection with unemployment benefit; and if he will undertake to consider and investigate cases of the nature mentioned, where it is alleged that benefit has been refused and idle days not credited for the week preceding the strike?

So far as I am aware the difficulty referred to in the question could only occur in regard to unemployment for one day or two days immediately prior to the dispute. The rules governing the matter are laid down in the Act, and no special instructions were issued, but I shall be glad to look into any particular case if desired.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether he has, as suggested in the question, received a complaint from the Mersey district on this matter?

I have heard a complaint from the Mersey district.