§ 36. Mr. HAMERSLEYasked whether married women outworkers in the glove trade, who are not wholly dependent on this work, are excluded or not from the operation of the National Insurance Act; and whether the unit fixed by the Commissioners as value of work done for the above class of outworkers, set out in Pamphlet B (outworkers), can be altered to meet the case of the glove-makers?
§ Mr. MASTERMANMarried women out-workers generally have been brought within the terms of the National Insurance Act in virtue of a Special Order of the Insurance Commissioners which came into force as a Provisional Order on the 15th instant. The Commissioners are 1852 making investigations, through their inspectors, with a view to fixing a special unit or units of work in the case of the glove industry.
§ Mr. HAMERSLEYArising out of that answer, would the Financial Secretary instruct that the Leaflet No. 4, page 2, paragraph 7, issued by the Commissioners, which states "that married women outworkers who are the wives of insured persons and are not wholly dependent for their livelihood on their earnings as outworkers, are among those who are not obliged to be insured," be withdrawn as inaccurate?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI will consider that point.
Mr. PEELIs the inquiry to which the right hon. Gentleman refers only in respect of the glove industry, or to outworkers in other industries?
§ Mr. MASTERMANOh, no; we have sent an inspector to Yeovil, and generally to inquire into the problem of the outworkers in Somerset.
§ Sir J. D. REESIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of the great confusion introduced into the lace trade of Nottingham by the sudden change, and of the loss and inconvenience caused—
§ Mr. SPEAKERI do not see how that arises out of the question.