§ Mr. WEIGALLasked (1) whether any Regulations have been issued by the Insurance Commissioners as to the distribution of emergency cards to employers; and (2) under what Regulations of the Insurance Commissioners there will be a penal obligation upon an employé to produce an insurance card to his employer for stamping?
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTasked whether, in the event of domestic servants and other employed persons declining to keep a book or card for stamping under the National Insurance Act, their employers can be compelled to provide such book or card for them; and, if so, to what penalty or penalties will they be subject in the event of their declining to do so?
§ Mr. MASTERMANDraft Regulations relating to the collection of contributions under Part I. of the Act have been issued to members of the Advisory Committee to the Joint Committee which meets on Friday next. It is the duty of the employé to produce his card for stamping. The employer is responsible in any case for seeing that the stamps are placed on a card, and for this purpose he will be able on application to obtain a supply of emergency cards for use where the ordinary cards have not been produced by the employé. Breaches of such Regulations as may be made are punishable by fine under Section 69 (2) of the Act. The employer is also, under Section 70 of the Act, under a civil liability to the employé for the value of any right which he may have been deprived through contributions not being paid, and under the provisions of the Third Schedule (3), he will be unable to deduct the employés share of any contribution after the time at which that contribution is properly payable.
§ Mr. WEIGALLHow long an interval will be allowed between the non-production by the employé of his card and the issue of the emergency card to the employer?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI hope that the emergency cards will be in the hands of employers before the Act comes into force, so that, if for any reason an employé does not produce his card, the employer may use the emergency card.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEIf a fine is not paid will imprisonment follow?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI cannot answer that off-hand.
§ Mr. MASTERMANThat, also, I cannot answer without notice.
§ Mr. RUPERT GWYNNEWho will retain the emergency card—will it be retained by the employé or only by the employer; and to whom does the hon. Gentleman refer when he says fines will be levied—will they be fines on the employer or on the employed person?
§ Mr. MASTERMANIf either commits a breach of the duty laid upon both by the Act, either of them will be liable to a fine.