§ 77. Mr. BIRDasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the term "iron-founding" for the purposes of the National 224 Insurance Act, Part II., includes all castings in iron of whatever form or description; and, if so, will he say why this interpretation has been adopted in view of the declaration of the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 4th May, 1911, that the operation of Part II. of the Act should be restricted in the first instance to the building and engineering trades?
Mr. BUXTONThe hon. Member has misinterpreted the speech made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the introduction of the National Insurance Bill. Ironfounding, he will remember, was subsequently expressly included by Parliament among the insured trades specified in the 6th Schedule. As to the exact meaning to be put upon the word "ironfounding," I must refer the hon. Member to decisions Nos. 11 and 20, of which I am sending him a copy.
Mr. BUXTONThe Chancellor of the Exchequer was speaking generally, and he pointed out that it was entirely in the hands of Parliament to add to or diminish the number of trades. The ironfounder was subsequently introduced, and engineering was made to include it with other trades.
§ 78. Mr. BIRDasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, pursuant to Section 104 of the National Insurance Act, 1911, he will, by special Order, exclude from the occupations which are to be deemed employment in an insured trade the casters of key-blanks, harness furniture, stirrups, spurs, bits, bridles, and watchguard fittings, bag furniture, and spring hooks, seeing that the manufacture of these articles does not come under the denomination of either engineering or building trades?
Mr. BUXTONThe powers of exclusion contained in Section 104 of the National Insurance Act, 1911, are limited to the exclusion of occupations which are common to insured and uninsured trades alike, and ancillary only to the purpose of an insured trade, and occupations in businesses which though concerned with the making of parts or the preparation of material for use in connection with an insured trade are mainly carried on as separate businesses or in connection with trades other than insured trades. I have some doubt 225 if the occupations mentioned in the question come under either of these headings, but I shall be glad to consider any information that may be furnished me on the subject.
§ Mr. BIRDOn what ground are casters of bedsteads excluded from Part II. of the Insurance Act, while casters of stirrups, spurs, and spring hooks, are included?