asked the Minister of Labour whether the officials of the Employment Exchange at Kidsgrove, Staffordshire, are acting in accordance with his instructions, or with the instructions of his Department, in sending officials of the Employment Exchange to the homes of persons on the unemployment benefit fund to ascertain whether such persons are at home and, if not at home, asking other persons in the house where the person on the fund is, and generally putting them through a severe cross-examination in respect to the person on the fund; and whether the officials at the Employment Exchange are acting under instructions in striking off the fund a person who is at home when they call on him?

In accordance with instructions visits are sometimes made to the homes of applicants for benefit, in order to verify that the conditions for receiving benefit are satisfied. Local officials do not themselves disallow claims: all decisions to disallow are given by the insurance officers in London.

Will the hon. Gentleman inform me whether the officials of this Exchange are acting under the Ministry's instructions in striking off the fund any person whom they find at home?

I could not hear the last part of the hon. Member's question. With regard to the part which I did hear, as I have already said, visits are made sometimes in accordance with instructions issued by the Ministry.

Is it not a fact that these men are interrogated by the officials of the Exchange; and, when there are courts of referees and all the rest of it, why should it be necessary to have a spy system in addition?

Really, the hon. Gentleman is under a misapprehension. These so-called investigations are often quite as much in the interests of the men themselves as for any other purpose. It is very often the case that charges are made which require investigation in the interests of the men.

Are we to understand that the hon. Gentleman agrees that the Employment Exchange officials can make inquiry at a person's home, and, if they find the person not at home, can strike such a person off the fund?

Certainly not. The fact that a man is not at home may show that he is seeking work and may be very much in his interest.

Is it the case that, on the Ministry's instructions, if a man is found at home he can be struck off by the Exchange officials?

Certainly not. A man may be at home for a very good reason. He may be ill, for instance, in which case it is to his interest that the fact should be known.

rose—

We cannot have a Debate.

Mr. Speaker, this is an awfully important matter.

We cannot have the same question put over and over again and exactly the same answer given.

This question is important to the persons in this position, and I am just asking the hon. Gentleman if he will say whether the officials at this Employment Exchange are under the instructions of the Ministry in deciding that a man must be struck off the Fund if they find him at home?

I have answered that already, and I might say, in addition, that it does not rest with the officials as to whether or not a man is struck off.

rose—

HON. MEMBERS:

Order!

It is the first time the hon. Member has put a question for months, and he cannot get a chance!

The hon. Member cannot take up the time of the House like this. If he is dissatisfied, he must put down another question on the Paper.