MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINEasked (1) in what manner will the contributions due from prisoners and convicts be dealt with under the National Insurance Bill; 363 and (2) whether the Government, as the employer of convicts and prisoners, will pay 26s. per annum per head of prison inmates in the same manner as the trustees or governors of homes of refuge?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEA prisoner or convict, since he is under no contract of service, has not as such any right to be an insured person. An employed contributor, whose employment is interrupted by a period of imprisonment, will fall into arrears for that period, and will be entitled to the same privileges in respect of the arrears as if they had been attributable to loss of employment on any other ground.
MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINEAm I to understand that a prisoner who, say, after a month's imprisonment, goes sick, is to be entitled to sick benefit without employer's contribution, and is thus to get his benefits for a smaller premium than the honest man, while trustees of charities are to be forced to pay contributions of both employer and employed?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThe Noble Lord is entirely wrong. If a man is in arrear for a month he is in arrear beyond the time allowed for arrears in the Bill, and there will be an abatement.
MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINEIs the fact that he has been in prison to be shown on his insurance card, and thus advertise the fact wherever he may want to get employment?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEHe will advertise the fact that there is a gap. That is inevitable. But if he chooses he can fill it up by paying the arrears.
§ Mr. JAMES HOPEHow long will a prisoner be considered to be an unemployed person—will he be so treated if he is in prison twelve months?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThat question was discussed for two hours the other day. I can hardy be expected to deal with it in answer to a question.