asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that unemployed married men with families in the Abertillery Unemployment Assistance Board's area, receive no financial benefit from the recent 1s. per week increase made to children, because if the applicant or his son applies to the local office of the Unemployment Assistance Board for an allowance, that amount is reduced by an equivalent to the increase made in the case of children, with the result that no regard is had either for the increase in the cost of living or the object for which such an increase in dependants' benefit was made; and will he take action to see that unemployed people shall receive those advantages agreed to by Parliament?

I understand the hon. Member to refer to cases where an unemployment allowance is payable in sup- plementation of unemployment benefit. In such cases the unemployment benefit is brought up to a sum determined in accordance with the Board's regulations as revised in December last on account of the increase in the cost of living. It follows that the greater the sum received as benefit the smaller will be the amount payable by way of supplementation. I can see nothing in this which is inconsistent with the arrangements approved by Parliament.

Does not the hon. Gentleman appreciate the point of the latter part of my Question? Is it not perfectly clear that the advantages which, otherwise, would automatically accrue to a person in receipt of unemployment standard benefit are denied to him and that he gets no benefit as a result of the regulations passed in this House?

I think if the hon. Member studies my answer carefully he will see that that is not the case.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider the advisability of appointing independent persons to act as clerks to the Unemployment Assistance Board appeal tribunals and Assistance Board tribunals?

These appointments are made by the Assistance Board. I am informed that the Board fully appreciate the necessity of safeguarding the independence of appeal tribunals appointed under the Unemployment Assistance Act, and have carefully considered the question of the clerks' status from this point of view. As, however, a clerk must, if he is to carry out his duties efficiently, be familiar with the general practice and procedure of unemployment assistance, they do not feel that any advantage would be secured by an alteration in the existing practice.

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that the clerk to the Unemployment Assistance Board tribunal being specially favourable to the Unemployment Assistance Board, his influence is always exercised to the disadvantage of the applicant; and does the hon. Gentleman not think that, as the Unemploy- ment Assistance Board is frequently involved in these cases the clerk to the appeal tribunal should be appointed independently, so that it would be a strictly impartial body for dealing with appeals?

I cannot accept the hon. Gentleman's premise. I think I have made it clear that this is a matter for the Board and not one in which the Minister has any power, but, as I have said, I will convey the hon. Gentleman's remarks to the Board.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of coal miners in South Wales and Monmouthshire registered as unemployed?

At 11th March, 1940, there were 13,319 insured men, aged 18–64, recorded as unemployed in the coal-mining industry in South Wales and Monmouthshire. In association with representatives of employers and workpeople in the coal-mining industry, reviews of the unemployment register are being undertaken in a number of mining areas where there is an unsatisfied demand for labour, with the object of determining the extent to which men can be placed in mining employment.

May I ask whether the Minister intends to transfer any of the miners from South Wales to other parts of the British coalfields?

The hon. Member will be aware that there are powers to assist in providing the fares of men who are so transferred.

Is the Minister aware that there are many pits in South Wales closed at the present time—pits which could be opened and which would be sufficient to absorb all the unemployed labour there?

I think that is another question.

Will the Minister reply to my hon. Friend's Supplementary Question as to whether it is the intention of the Ministry of Labour to transfer any miners from South Wales to any other coalfield?

That also, I must point out, is another question.