HC Deb 09 October 1912 vol 42 cc332-3
18. Mr. PETO

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in the case of officers of county courts employed as part-time bailiffs, the Treasury refund the salaries of the officers to the high bailiffs and registrars of the courts; whether the Treasury have refused to refund the employers' contributions payable under the National Insurance Act and require the high bailiffs and registrars to pay these contributions out of their private purses; and, if so, whether he will see that the Treasury assume the legal responsibility of employers in such cases in future?

Mr. MASTERMAN

The insured persons referred to in the question are the personal employés of the registrars or high bailiffs of county courts out of whose salaries, remunerations, and allowances they are paid. Although there is no liability on the part of the State in respect to their insurance, the Treasury, on the application of the representatives of the county court officers in question, agreed to allow in the accounts of the courts any payments for insurance made in respect of any clerk or bailiff who gave his whole time to the county court work. If on investigation a clear case is made out for any concession in respect of any particular part-time employés, the claim will not fail to receive consideration on its merits.

Mr. PETO

Why is this distinction made between part-time and whole-time men?

Mr. MASTERMAN

It is very doubtful if the part-time men are employés of the Crown at all. If they are not employés of the Crown, the Crown have no call to pay.

Mr. PETO

Is it not clear in any case, that the payment of contributions under the Insurance Act constitute an additional charge on the salaries of high bailiffs and registrars, which was not contemplated when their salaries were fixed?