asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he will admit to the benefits of the Extension of Unemployment Benefit (1946) Regulations, persons disqualified because of long illness on compensation.

Under the National Insurance (Extension of Unemployment Benefit) Regulations, anyone who was last in regular employment as long ago as August, 1944, may be considered for an extension of benefit. Further, if there were periods of incapacity during 1944 and 1945 employment as long ago as 1942 may enable conditions to be satisfied. In framing these provisions we have made the widest concession which is possible within the law as it now stands. I should point out, also, that it is one of the conditions for unemployment benefit that the applicant should be capable of work.