SOCIAL PROGRESS

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 114, 16 May 1934, Page 9

SOCIAL PROGRESS

UNEMPLOYMENT BILL

PROMOTION OF WELFARE

BENEFITS IN BRITAIN

(Britlsb Official Wireless.)

ETJGBY, May 14,

The early introduction in Parliament of a measure for the consolidation of existing Acts dealing with vi.employment insurance is announced. There nave been 35 such Acts since 1920. The third reading of tho new Unemployment Bill, which was subjected tq prolonged examination in Committee, was taken in the House of Commons today. The Minister of Labour, Sir Henry Bettorton, described is as a great contribution to social progress. Inter alia, it restores in full the cuts in the rates of the standard unemployment benefit which Sir Henry Betterton said were now higher, having regard to the cost of living, >,han ever before. The Bill also extends to a possible 52 weeks the present period of 26 weeks during which a man may draw benefits as of right and without inquiry regarding his means. It is estimated that about 602,000 will benefit by this provision in the course of a year at a cost of about £7,500,000. '

The Bill closes the gap between the age of leaving school and that of entry into insurance by placing- a duty on local education authorities to provide instruction for unemployed boys and girls and empowering the Minister of Labour to compel their attendance.

The Minister claimed that the solvency of the insurance fund had been secured . and machinery provided to maintain' it. The establishment of an independent board for central administration aaid direction of policy is provided for. One of the board's duties is the promotion of welfare, but it is not the Government's intention that the board should take over the various voluntary occupational centres which have been doing valuable work among tho unemployed.

The Bill was read a third time by 421 votes to 67.