78. Mr. WORTHINGTON-EVANSasked whether, where the subsequent decisions of the Insurance Commissioners directly conflict with answers given by the right hon. Gentleman that certain classes are not compulsorily insured persons, the arrears of 7d. a week may, when paid by the employers, be recovered by deduction from subsequent wages; and, if not, whether arrears can be remitted as if the Act only came into force on the dates of the Commissioners' decisions?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI am not aware that any decision by the Insurance Commissioners has conflicted with statements made by myself as to whether certain persons are liable to be insured, but I may point out that whenever application is made to the Commissioners for the determination of such a question, the applicant is informed that the proper course in a case of doubt is for the weekly contributions to be paid pending the decision upon the question submitted. Where it is decided that an employment does not come within the Act, a refund of contributions paid unnecessarily may be claimed.
Mr. WORTHINGTON-EVANSDoes the right hon. Gentleman remember the case of the barge-owners, in which there was an actual conflict of opinion between the right hon. Gentleman's answer and the Commissioners' decision, and in such cases are there any means of treating a man as coming into employment from the date of the Commissioners' decision, instead of the date of the Act?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI am informed that there is no such discrepancy between my answer and the decision of the Commissioners, as the hon. Gentleman suggests. I was referring to a different class of barge-owners.