asked the Minister of Labour why the application made by Messrs. C. E. Turnbull and Company, Limited, of 45, Clerkenwell Road, E.C.1, dated 18th August, 1939, for a refund of unemployment insurance contributions paid in error on behalf of their employe, Mr. Fasham, has been refused under emergency regulations made 19 days after the application for the refund had been received by his Department?

It was unfortunately not possible to deal with this claim before the war. The inaccessibility of essential records since the outbreak necessitated the Emergency Regulation to which the hon. Member refers, but the claim is merely in suspense and can be revived as soon as the necessary records again become accessible.

This claim was made 19 days before the emergency regulations, which were made retrospective in their application. To what date were they made retrospective?

The claim was made some days before the war began, but unfortunately it was not dealt with and now the records are not accessible.

Is it right that an individual should be penalised for the dilatoriness of a public Department? Nineteen days was surely sufficient for the Ministry to deal with this matter.

I would point out that this was a payment made in error.