§ 40. Mr. LYELLasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the case of a number of men employed by the Edinburgh and Leith Gas Commissioners in putting out the gas lights on common stairs every morning at the rate of 1s. 5d. the morning, or under 10s. a week; whether he is aware that these men were compulsorily insured from 15th July, 1912, until 8th February, 1913, when they were informed that they were outside the compulsory provisions of the National Insurance Act, but had the option of continuing as voluntary contributors; and whether, in view of the fact that these men had 33 weeks' deductions made from their wages under a misapprehension, he can see his way to refund to such of them as do not insure as voluntary contributors the deductions amounting to 11s. apiece.
Mr. ROBERTSONThe persons referred to in the question were properly insured as employed contributors until 30th December last, when a Special Order came into force by which their employment was excluded from the scope of the compulsory provisions of the National Insurance Act as a class of employment which is ordinarily adopted as subsidiary employment only, and not as a principal means of livelihood. In the circumstances the contributions paid by the men up to 30th December cannot be treated as having been paid under a misapprehension, and the Commissioners have no power to make any repayment from the National Health Insurance Fund in respect of such contributions. If, however, deductions have been made from the men's wages for any period subsequent to that date an application for a refund so far as those contributions are concerned would be entertained in the case of any men who may not elect to continue in insurance as voluntary contributors.