§ 42. Mr. COWANasked whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that officers from the Board of Trade Labour Exchanges are calling upon employers of labour informing them verbally that it will be illegal for them to employ workmen not possessing certificates of insurance against unemployment after the 15th July, and that such officers profess themselves unable to answer inquiries at to whether workmen employed in particular trades do or do not come within the scope of Part II. of the National Insurance Act; and whether he will give instructions that all officers employed to deal with such matters shall be put in a position to furnish accurate information on this point?
Mr. BUXTONBy Section 91 (1) (b) of the Act, binding decisions as to whether any workman or class of workmen is included within the insured trades are given, not by the Board of Trade or by its officials, but by the Umpire appointed by the Crown under Section 89. The Board's officials are immediately informed of the decisions of the Umpire, which are also made public in the official publications of the Board by circular and in other ways. A provisional list of occupations which the Board of Trade, as at present advised, consider to be insured trades has, however, been printed and distributed to employers concerned, together with a statement to the effect that applications to the Umpire should be made by persons desirous of obtaining a final decision as to whether they are included or not. I am sending a copy of this list to my hon. Friend.
§ Mr. COWANCan the right hon. Gentleman say why the officials of the Labour Exchanges have been making these communications to employers?
Mr. BUXTONNaturally they wish to inform employers about the Act coming into force and give such information as they think employers would be glad to have.
§ 43. Mr. BARNESasked whether, in view of the fact that Forfar is the county town and the nearest Labour Exchange is situated at Arbroath, which is fifteen miles distant, he will consider the advisability of establishing an Exchange for Forfar and district?
Mr. BUXTONA local office of the Unemployment Fund has been established at Forfar. This agency will be connected with the Labour Exchanges at Arbroath and Dundee, and as at present advised I do not think the necessities of the case call for the establishment of an additional Exchange at Forfar.
§ Mr. ROBERT HARCOURTHas the right hon. Gentleman received any representations from this place?