Oral Answers to Questions — Unemployment. – in the House of Commons at on 4 March 1935.
Mr Edmund Radford
, Manchester Rusholme
asked the Minister of Labour whether he will direct that allowances under the Unemployment Assistance Act, 1934, which are payable to members of the Kindred Trades Federation in the home trade and export shipping industry, the headquarters of which trade union are in Manchester, shall be paid through the medium of their union?
Mr Robert Hudson
, Southport
Under Section 42 (1) of the Unemployment Assistance Act, allowances must be issued by officers of the Unemployment Assistance Board. I am informed, however, that the board have under consideration the question whether, consistently with this provision, it will be possibly to permit payments to be made through associations of workpeople, and in this connection the position of the Kindred. Trades' Federation will be borne in mind.
Mr David Logan
, Liverpool Scotland
asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the anomaly existing which allows public assistance committee cases to receive King's Jubilee grants and debars unemployed cases from receiving any; and whether he is prepared to bring in legislation to remedy this defect?
Mr Robert Hudson
, Southport
I presume the hon. Member is referring to cases under the Unemployment Assistance Board. I am informed by the board that they have this matter under consideration, and that they hope shortly to enable my right hon. Friend to make a statement on the subject.
Mr David Logan
, Liverpool Scotland
Am I to understand from that reply that it is the intention with regard to public assistance cases that the unemployed will be placed on the same level?
Mr Robert Hudson
, Southport
No, Sir, I said that they had the matter under consideration.
Mr David Logan
, Liverpool Scotland
I am anxious to know whether you are prepared at this stage to give the same concessions to the unemployed as all other bodies throughout the country are giving to other forms of labour?
Mr Robert Hudson
, Southport
I think that the hon. Member had better await the statement of my right hon. Friend about it.
Mr William Hutchison
, Romford
asked the Minister of Labour whether he can give any approximate date upon which the Government proposes to lay before the House any new proposals with regard to need regulations; and whether the Government have decided whether it will be necessary to modify the Unemployment Act, 1934, or whether the new regulations can be evolved without such change?
Mr Robert Hudson
, Southport
My right hon. Friend is not yet in a position to make a statement on this subject.
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