asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that a man who has appealed against his discharge from his employment is frequently unemployed for some time owing to the delay in the hearing of his appeal and, in view of the waste of man-power involved, will he fix a maximum period of not more than seven days within which an appeal against discharge must be decided?

A man who appeals against his discharge need not necessarily remain unemployed pending the hearing of his appeal, and it is the policy of my Department to place him, wherever possible, in temporary employment meanwhile. The Department aims at securing a recommendation from a local appeal board within seven days, but my hon. Friend will appreciate that it is not always practicable to keep within rigid time-limits.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether a man who is directed to temporary employment must necessarily go outside his own area if he is appealing?

It all depends. If he goes outside the area, he is brought back when his appeal is heard. What I have to do is to place him where work can be done.

If a man is directed to temporary employment outside his area and appeals, when his appeal is heard are his expenses met?

That is another question.