§ 38. Lord CHARLES BERESFORDasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the men belonging to His Majesty's coastguard are ordered to distribute leaflets, forms, and other documents relative to the National Insurance Act amongst fishermen; and, if so, whether he is aware that these men are already fully occupied with the duties of watching the coast, compiling fishery statistics, recording air and water temperatures, and keeping a vigilant eye on the movements of warships?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Masterman)In order to give information to fishermen who are in the service of an employer of their special position under the Insurance Act arrangements were made by the Insurance Commissioners with the Board of Trade and the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries for utilising the services of their officers at the fishing ports to exhibit posters, to supply leaflets if applied for, and to allow any fisherman who called to sign a form. Where, as in some few instances, the officer under the Board of 855 Fisheries was also a coastguardsman, he performed these temporary duties. In two or three eases the local officer has suggested that the coastguardsman in the neighbourhood would have a better opportunity of exhibiting the poster than he would, and the Admiralty have informed their district captains that if a coastguardsman applied for permission to exhibit posters he might do so provided it did not interfere with his ordinary duties. Such exhibition of posters would not appear to interfere with the important duties enumerated in the question of the Noble Lord.
§ Major ANSTRUTHER-GRAYWill that be extended to Scotland?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI will consider that.