asked the Minister of National Insurance whether she is aware that Mr. J. E. Naish, Newport, was refused a day's sickness benefit because in working a night-shift from 25th to 26th January, 1951, he is debarred from claiming an allowance on two days; and whether she will take steps to amend Unemployment and Sickness Benefit Regulation, 1948, No. 1277, so that those working night-shifts shall not suffer such hardship as compared with those working only during day time.

Claims for sickness benefit and unemployment benefit made by night workers are governed by regulations which apply the broad principle that the night shift is allocated to the day on which most work was done. When Mr. Naish claimed sickness benefit from 25th January last, the statutory authorities disallowed benefit for 25th January because he worked six hours of his eight hour shift on that day. I cannot agree that the regulations have the effect that night workers are, on balance, worse off than day workers.