HC Deb 17 July 1912 vol 41 cc399-400
76. Mr. ROWNTREE

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, under the National Insurance Act, when a person's time is equally divided between two or more employers each of whom pays him a salary, whether his total income from all sources is to be reckoned in order to ascertain whether he comes above the £160 limit; if so, what procedure must each of his employers adopt to ascertain whether his total income is over the £160 limit; and which employer must pay the employer's contribution?

Mr. MASTERMAN

As I indicated in reply to a similar question put to me by my hon. Friend on the 10th instant, the facts of each employment must be looked into. A part-time employment, if not defined by special Order as subsidiary, is excepted only if it is remunerated at a rate which, in the opinion of the Commissioners, is equivalent to more than £160 a year for whole-time service, and any case in which reasonable doubt might arise should be reported to the Commission. The amount of the employé's total income from all sources is immaterial. In the event of more than one of the part-time employments being within the Act, the one of the employers concerned who first employs the man in any week will be liable, unless some suitable arrangement is made for sharing the contributions.

Captain CRAIG

Will the right hon. Gentleman publish in volume form all these answers on these complicated questions for purposes of reference by inquirers throughout the country?

Mr. MASTERMAN

If the hon. and gallant Gentleman will study the literature already issued by the Insurance Commissioners he will find most of these answers embodied in it.

Captain CRAIG

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the literature, so far as I have seen it, is just as confusing as; his own answers?