asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the amount at present to the credit of the Intermittent Unemployment Fund; and whether, since it was possible to reduce the rates of contributions payable, he will consider the possibility of increasing the benefit rates, for wet time, payable to workers in the building industry as a step towards the guaranteed week in that industry.

The balance to the credit of the Supplementary Unemployment Fund at 30th June, 1946, was £81,761, but the account for the period ending on that date is still subject to further examination and audit.

I recently decided to have an examination made of the operation of the Act, including the rate of benefit, and that examination is now in progress.

When does the Minister hope the examination will be completed?

Following on the examination there will be the necessity for discussions between the parties concerned in the administration of the Act. I could not forecast how long these discussions may take.