BRITISH REPORT

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 375, 9 November 1932, Page 5

BRITISH REPORT

tBrltlsh Offlclal Wlreless)

IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS ARE FORMULATEb BY COMMISSION basis remains the same

Rec. Nov. 8. Rugby, Nov. 7. The final report of the Unemplojrment Insurahce Commission, which .is expected to form the hasis of legislation in the Parliamentary session which begins on November 22, was issued to-niightl The chairman (His Honour Mr. Justice Holman Gregory) and four members sign main reportj and there is a minoriky report signed by two other members, but the recommen- ? dations of tbe commission on many points are unanimous. The main proposais briefly are: — A dual system of insurahce and relief. An insured worker wiao had ,paid a minimum number of contributions should be entitled .to a fixed payineht for a limited time without inquiry into his needs. Workers, who are not insured, including those who are over the income limit of £250 per annum and insured workers who have exhausted their insurance rights, should be relieved according to their needs under a relief service administered by the local authorities and supervised by the Minister of Labour. Retention of Insurance Scbeme Retention is recommended of tbe unemployment insurance scheme substantially on the lines at present in foree, as "the first line defence for a great majority of the /unemployed," and it is made clear that each scheme together with the unemployment assistance scheme which they propose, should be linked up with arrangments foi- the training and occupation of unemployed. The Ministry of Labour should he generally responsible for the control and development of the new service for maintaining through employment exchanges, contact between persons affected hy the service and opportunities for employment, and also for ensuring that "test" needs are administered in aecordance with uniform principles throughout the( country. Some variations between areas may be desirable by reason of dilferences in the cost of living, the cost of transport to worlc and other iocal circumstances, but they should be limited. The main -cost of the new service should be borne by the Exchequer, hut local authorities should contribute a share, as they must have a financial interest in their divisions. Subject to Proof of Need The principles for the guidance of local authorities in rpaking grants under the pi*oposed scheme of unemployment, separate from the poor law, are: Assistance should be subject to proof of need; an applicant should be judged after an assessment of the resources of the household, of which he is a member; the amount of payment must be less than the wage standard, and should be such as experience shows necessary to relxeve need The commission express the view that the insurance scheme must possess flexibility in order to permit of adjustment to changing industrial conditions, and recommend the establishment of an independent statutory commission as an advisory body to the Minister of Labour and to keep the scheme constantly under review. This hody would report annually on the finance of the scheipe ar\d make suggestions for keeping the insuraiice fund solvent and self-sustaining. The commission warmly commend the existing schemes, official and voluntary, for providing young unemployed with vocational training, and urge they be developed.