asked the Minister of Labour if Employment Exchanges are able to secure cash direct from the post offices for the purpose of paying unemployment benefit?

Mr. HUDSON:

The course suggested in the question, though perhaps theoretically possible, would be administratively very inconvenient, and is in practice not adopted.

Is it not true to say that the Employment Exchanges can get cash from some post offices for the purpose of paying unemployment benefit, and does the answer imply that the Exchanges are not getting any cash from post offices for paying benefit?

Mr. HUDSON:

The Employment Exchanges do not get cash from post offices for the payment of benefit except in a few cases of outlying Exchanges where benefit has to be paid at a distance and where the Exchanges are able to get money orders on the Post Office.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there are post offices in the country to which the managers of the Employment Exchanges actually proceed with their bags and receive money with which to pay out unemployment benefit?

Mr. HUDSON:

Not that I am aware of. The practice of Exchange managers is to get any cash they require from the local bank.

Will the hon. Gentleman take advantage of his position to get to know the real truth about these withdrawals from the Post Office?

Mr. HUDSON:

I should be pleased to have any information which the hon. Member has in support of his allegation, but as far as I know it is not done.

Will the hon. Gentleman take note for the future that money is available in a State Department for the purpose of paying benefit; why should the Ministry of Labour go to a private bank when the cash is available in a State Department?

Mr. HUDSON:

Because it is administratively very much more convenient, and costs very much less.

Are people allowed to have in the Post Office Savings Bank accounts of the size that would be required?