§ 66. Mr. BOWERMANasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been drawn to a notice issued to their workpeople by a London firm of printers to the effect that, under the provisions of the National Insurance Act, it becomes necessary for every employé to produce a certificate of birth, which must be in their hands without fail on or before 21st June, 1912; whether the Regulations of the Insurance Commissioners require the production to an employer of the employé's birth certificate; and, if not, can he state what protection a workman will receive in the event of refusal to comply with the employer's demand?
§ Mr. MASTERMANAs I stated yesterday, in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Sunderland, the Act gives no employer any right to require a birth certificate from persons employed by him.
Mr. POINTERIs there any possibility of the employer getting to know the age of the individual where there is an application?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI know of no possibility under the Regulations laid down under the Act.
§ Mr. CLYNESWhat does the right hon. Gentleman propose to do in cases where the Act gives no right, but where the employer exercises the powers?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI have no authority to act except on the Regulations under the Act. I think some of the requirements are being made under a misapprehension, and I hope the employers who make them, when they realise the situation, will cease to make them.