HC Deb 29 February 1912 vol 34 cc1547-8
Sir JOHN JARDINE

asked whether the hon. Gentleman is aware that in many districts in the Lowlands of Scotland a new term of engagement of farm servants, men and women, begins on Whit-Sunday, and that in some parts the farmers have announced their combined intention to make engagements by contract in writing, because of the incidence of the Insurance Act, and to abolish the present practice or custom whereby the farm servant gets full wages during sickness for a period of six weeks every year; and if he is now able to state what arrangements have been made in the county of Roxburgh to supply farm servants with information regarding the Insurance Act in the period before the new term begins?

Mr. MASTERMAN

I was not aware of the proposed action of the farmers in the Lowlands to which my hon. Friend refers; literature is now in preparation which it is hoped will give such farm servants the information they require about the National Insurance Act.

Sir J. JARDINE

Can the hon. Gentleman give the dates on which the information will be given, seeing that the time is so close that the farm servants are between somebody and the deep sea?

Mr. MASTERMAN

I shall be glad to bring the point before the Chairman of the Scotch Commission.