§ 81. Sir WALTER MENZIESasked whether a hand-loom weaver working his own loom in an apartment of his dwelling 455 house, and always weaving for one employer, should have his insurance card stamped by that employer; whether the fact that he had three or four looms in his dwelling-house, and employed three or four men to weave always for that one employer, would make a difference as to which of them stamped the card; and whether, in any case, he will instruct one of the Scottish Commissioners, or their agents, to go to Stonehouse and Strathaven, in Lanarkshire, and explain by public meeting, or otherwise, to the hand-loom weavers there what is their actual position under the National Insurance Act?
§ Mr. MASTERMANA hand-loom weaver working single-handed at home on materials supplied by an employer would be insured as an outworker. In the case of a weaver employing several assistants the weaver himself would be insurable by the employer as an outworker if he took a substantial part in the actual work, and he and not the employer would ordinarily be responsible for the insurance of the assistants. The Scottish Commissioners are arranging to send an inspector to the districts mentioned by my hon. Friend to deal with any difficult cases which may have arisen in connection with the working of the Act.
MARQUESS Of TULLIBARDINEMay I ask if in the last case mentioned a weaver who employed others would not be in the position of a contractor?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI do not think I can add anything to my answer. He would ordinarily be responsible for the insurance of the assistants.