§ 17. Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked when it is proposed to issue a booklet explanatory of the obligations under the National Insurance Act for the men employed on the Royal dockyards similar to that just issued for the same purpose to the men in the Royal Navy and in the Royal Marines?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAA pamphlet explaining the application of Part I. of the National Insurance Act to workmen in His Majesty's dockyards and other civil employés of the Admiralty is now being prepared, and will be issued at an early date.
§ 18. Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked whether it is still intended to deduct 2½d. per week from the wages of hired workmen employed in the Royal dockyards for unemployment insurance, in view of the Financial Secretary's statement that 75 per cent. of these men are in regular employment; and, if it is so intended, to what purpose is the money collected to be applied?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. J. M. Robertson)My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. Part II. of the National Insurance Act applies to hired workmen in the insured trades employed in Royal dockyards, subject to such modifications as may be made by Order in Council for the purpose of adapting the provisions of Part II. of the Act to the case of such workmen. There is no 1297 provision in Part II. of the Act for exempting workmen merely on the ground that they have at present an expectation of regular employment. Contributions of such workmen will go to the Unemployment Fund, and they will be able to claim benefit in accordance with the provisions of the Act if for any reason they become unemployed. The case of the regular workman is met by Section 95 of the Act, which provides that any workman or his personal representatives who show to the satisfaction of the Board of Trade that the workman has paid contributions to the Unemployment Fund in respect of 500 weeks or upwards, and that the workman has reached the age of sixty, or before his death had reached the age of sixty, may claim to be repaid the amount, if any, by which the total amount of such contributions have exceeded the total amount received by way of unemployment benefit, together with the compound interest at the rate of 2½ per cent. per annum.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Financial Secretary, in this House, stated that 75 per cent. of these men were always employed? Why, therefore, take away the 2½d. per week? Will you please answer?