UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF

Evening Star, Issue 21721, 16 May 1934, Page 9

UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF

THE NEW BRITISH BILL CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIAL PROGRESS (British Official Wireless.) Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright ' - ' .RUGBY, May 14. The third reading of the new Unemployment Bill, which was subjected to a prolonged examination in committee, was taken in the House of Commons to-day. Sir Henry Betterton '(Minister of Labour) described it as a great contribution to socidl progress. Inter alia, it restores in full the cuts in the rates of standard unemployment benefit, which Sir Henry Betterton said were now higher, having regard to the cost of living, than ever before. The Bill also extends to a possible fifty-two weeks the present period of twenty-six weeks during which a man may draw the benefit 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 and direction of the policy was 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 the unemployed.

. CONSOLIDATION OF ACTS RUGBY, May 14. Tho early introduction in Parliament of a measure for the consolidation of existing Acts dealing with unemployment insurance is announced. There have been thirty-livo such Acts since 1920.