§ 29. Sir FREDERICK BANBURYasked whether an employed person between 16 and 21 has to pay 7d. a week under the National Insurance Act, 4d. by the employed person and 3d. by the employer, inasmuch as the variations of the rates of contributions relate only to employed persons of 21 years and upwards?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe statement in the latter part of the question is correct. The contribution payable in respect of male employed persons in Great Britain between the ages of sixteen and twenty-one is 7d., of which 4d. may be deducted from wages, whether or not the remuneration is at a higher rate than 2s. 6d. a day.
§ Sir F. BANBURYWhy does a boy of eighteen in receipt of 10s. a week pay 4d., while a man of twenty-one pays 1d.?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe only reply I can give to that is that it was so decided by Parliament.