asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state, for the latest date available, the amount in the Supplementary Unemployment Fund established under the Insurance (Intermittent Unemployment) Act, 1942, and whether he intends to introduce proposals for legislation to provide for increases in the rates of benefit payable under the Act or for the improvement of other provisions of the Act.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Increases in Benefits.
The balance in the Supplementary Unemployment Fund at 31st March, 1949, was approximately £81,000, as compared with approximately £93,000 at 31st March, 1947, immediately preceding the date from which the rates of supplementary benefit were increased by a minimum of 50 per cent. Expenditure exceeded income by approximately £24,000 in the financial year 1947/48, but in the year 1948/49 there was an excess of approximately £9,000 of income over expenditure, the differences being mainly due to the vagaries of the weather.
It is proposed to discuss the matter with the representatives of employers and the trade union congresses at the end of the present financial year.