UNEMPLOYMENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 209, 23 November 1927, Page 9

UNEMPLOYMENT

INSURANCE SCHEME IN ENGLAND BILL BEFORE COMMONS British Wireless —Press Assn. —Copyright RUGBY, Monday. The Unemployment Insurance Bill was considered by the Hpuse of Commons to-day. The new measure is based on the ■recommendations of the committee, which, under Lord Blaneshurgh as chairman, recently investigated the whole subject, with particular reference to the finances of the new scheme which now embraces about 12,000,000 workers. To-morrow and Wednesday have also been set aside for the discussion of the Bill. An amendment has now been proposed by the Government, under which further alterations to the benefits are put forward. Under the existing scheme there is a dividing line at the age of 18 between adults and boys and girls who are unemployed. A man receives 18s a week and an adult woman 15s, while a boy between the ages of 16 and 18 receives 7s 6d and a girl between 16 and 18 receives 6s a week. GOVERNMENT PLAN Under the present Bill it is proposed that a man shall receive 17s an a woman 15s; a young ma nfrom IS to 21 years old, 10s; a young woman from 18 to 21 years, 8s; a boy from IS to 18 years, 6s; and a girl from 16 to 18 years, 5s a week. The Government amendment is the concession that the benefit should be graduated to persons over 18 and under 21, and it provides that the benefit to unemployed persons shall rise to 10s a week at 18, to 12s at 19, and to 14s at 20 years of age. The women’s benefits advance proportionately. PAGES OF AMENDMENTS Apart from the point of benefits and contributions, it is probable that much interest during the debate on the Bill will be centred in an unofficial Conservative amendmeht, directed' to providing better arrangements for the vocational training of young unemployed persons. The whole evening was occupied in committee on the Bill, to which members of the Labour Party had tabled 10 pages of amendments. AH the opposition was based on the view that the reduction of the unemployment benefits will inevitably result in the unemployed being forced to seek poor law relief. Finally the closure was moved and the clause was carried by 224 votes to 137.—A. and N.Z.