57. Captain CRAIGasked whether, under the National Insurance Act, an employer who employs servants working a portion of the year in England and a portion in Ireland is obliged to affix the 7d. stamp when the servant is in England, and the 5½d. stamp when he is in Ireland, or, if one denomination only, which; in that event, if 5½d. only, how is the employé to secure medical benefit if taken ill in England, and, if 7d. only, what benefit does he receive to compensate for paying the higher rate, although he cannot claim medical treatment if he is taken ill in Ireland; and, if two denominations of stamps are to be used, will he explain how the employé partially employed in Ireland will not be worse off than an employé engaged all the year round in England?
§ Mr. MASTERMANContributions will be payable at the English rate in respect of insured persons while in England and at the Irish rate while in Ireland. An insured person coming from Ireland to England will, on giving notice to the insurance committee of the area to which he comes, be entitled to medical benefit under the ordinary conditions.
Captain CRAIGIn the case of a man who travels backward and forward constantly, has he to give special notice?
§ Mr. MASTERMANWe have not made provision for that, but the ordinary method would be that if he passed from one place to another he would have to give notice, and he would receive medical benefit in England.
Captain CRAIGCould the right hon. Gentleman not have an automatic machine placed in the Library so that we 2485 could just drop a penny in the slot and get an answer to all these conundrums?