Higher Unemployment Benefits
It is manifest that some time must elapse before the new Soci Insurance Scheme can be brought into operation ; but th Government has decided to apply some of its advantages in di interim period for the benefit of the unemployed. This is a wi decision and one that can easily be carr:ed out, since there is large accumulated credit in the Unemployment Insurance Fund Mr. Bevin proposes in the Unemployment Insurance (Increase A Benefits) Bill to make appreciable increases in benefit rates with out calling for extra contributions. In some cases the benefi will actually be as high as those that will be established unde the Social Insurance Scheme ; in other cases they will come ne to that level, Thus the normal benefit for a single ma will reach the full figure of 24s. a week, but for agricultural worker it will be raised only to 225. A single woman will normally ge 22S., the rate, in agriculture, going from 15s. to as. The principl of the family allowance is recognised by increasing the unemplaY ment benefit in respect of dependent children to 55. each for th first two children, and 4s. for each other, child. Thus in the Whet' of unemployment Mr. Bevin would make it possible to anticipat some at least of the advantages promised under the social securit policy. It can be done without imposing any new burden on th Exchequer, and, indeed, can be paid for entirely out of curren contributions unless the average rate of unemployment exceed 8 per cent. That percentage is the manageable amount of averag unemployment, which will not be exceeded if the Government' employment policy proves successful.
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