GRADUATED BENEFITS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20005, 23 November 1927, Page 11

GRADUATED BENEFITS

UNEMPLOYED INSURANCE NEW SCHEME IN ENGLAND (A. & N.Z.) LONDON, Nov. 21. An Unemployed Insurance Bill, based on the recommendations o fthe committee which, under Lord Blanesborough, recently investigated the whole subject with particular reference to the finances of the scheme, now embracing some 12,000,000 workpeople, will be considered in the House of Commons to-day. To-morrow and Wednesday have also been set aside for discussing the measure. An amendment has now been advanced by the Government by which further alterations to benefits are put forward. Under the existing scheme there is a dividing line at the age of 18 between adults and boys and girls. Au unemployed man receives 18s weekly and an adult woman 15s, while a boy between 16 and 18 gets 7s fid, and a girl between )fi and 18 years 6s. Under the present Bill it is proposed that a man shall receive 17s and a woman 15s, a young man from 18 to 21 years 10s, a young woman from 18 to 21 years Bs, and a t>oy from 16 to 18 years 6s, and a girl from 16 to 18 years ss.

The Government amendment is a confession that the benefit should be graduated to a person over 18 and under 21, and it provides that benefit to the unemployed should advance to 10s at 18 years, to 12s at 19 years, and to 14s at 20 years. Women’s benefits advance proportionately. Apart from the point of benefits and contributions, it is probable that much interest during the debate on the Bill will be centred in the unofficial Conservative amendment for providing better arrangements for the vocational training of young unemployed persons. In the House of Commons «he whole evening was occupied in committee on the Unemployed Insurance Bill, to which the Labourites had tabled ten pages of amendments. All the opposition was based on the view that a reduction of unemployment benefits will inevitably result in unemployed men being forced to seek poor law relief.

Finally the closure was moved and the clause was carried by 224 votes to 13.