§ 63. Mr. JAMES PARKERasked whether, in the case of an employer continuing to deduct from a workman's wages more than the statutory amount under the National Insurance Act, the Commissioners can take any action to compel the employer to observe the law; if not, whether, in view of the difficulty of an employé taking his employer to court, power will be obtained for the Commissioners to take action; and whether there is any prescribed penalty for such offence on the part of an employer?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Thornbury on 17th October. The Commissioners have no power to institute proceedings on behalf of a workman for the recovery of wages due. Cases have been brought to my notice in which workmen have successfully proceeded against their employers for breaches of the National Insurance Act. I shall be glad to know from my hon. Friend if the practice to which he refers is at all frequent, and, if so, the question of securing additional powers to the Commissioners for its prevention will have to be considered.