asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that his predecessor allowed payment of unemployment insurance to be made at cotton mills, for the convenience of the employés at such mills; is he aware that this concession has now been withdrawn and is causing serious hardship, by compelling a considerable number of persons to stand in the street in consequence of the lack of accommodation at the Labour Exchange where the unemployment insurance is now paid; and will he again allow payment to be made at the mills?

Arrangements for paying unemployment benefit at cotton mills are made only when the pressure of work at the local office is such as to prevent the adoption of the ordinary procedure. A number of such arrangements are still in force in the cotton districts. I am not aware of any cases in which considerable numbers of persons are compelled to stand in the street in consequence of the lack of accommodation at the local office, but if my hon. Friend can furnish particulars I will have inquiry made, and will endeavour to remove the grievance if such exists.

The right hon. Gentleman had these particulars given on the 5th April, and he replied that he could not make the concession then. This deals with more than 200 people, and where more than 200 people are employed will he allow them to be paid at the mills instead of having to go to the Employment Exchanges?

I think the hon. Member will see from the last part of my answer that, where a case can be shown in which hardship exists, I am willing to go into the matter and to try to remedy the grievance.