§ 33. Mr. HUNTasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the statement of the Insurance Commissioners in Memorandum 168/X, that a free cottage and potato ground are only to be calculated at 1s. a week; whether he is aware that in most parts of the country a free cottage and potato ground is worth 2s. a week, and that there is usually a garden as well; is he aware that the Commissioners in the same Paper calculate the work done by a horseman on a Sunday as a full day's work, whereas Is. is the usual allowance for Sunday work in the country; and will he have the calculations of the Commissioners as to the amount paid per day corrected?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Masterman)The figure to which the hon. Member refers is given merely by way of illustration and was not intended to represent the average value. The value of a free cottage and potato ground is a question of fact to be determined on the merits of the particular case. As regards the second part of the question the Commissioners have decided that where services are performed on six full days in the week and some service is ordinarily required on Sunday, the worker receiving a weekly wage, the total remuneration must be divided by seven to ascertain the remuneration for a working day for the purposes of Schedule II. The precise money value of the services rendered on the Sunday is immaterial, provided that some service has ordinarily to be rendered on that day.
§ Mr. HUNTIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the statements in the question are laid down in the Memorandum as rules by which farmers are to be guided arid that anybody who lives in the country knows that a free cottage and potato ground is worth far more than a shilling a week?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe value of the cottage and potato ground is decided in each case.
§ Mr. HUNTIf the right hon. Gentleman will look at the Memorandum he will see that what I say is correct, and is he aware that farmers in the country are much disturbed about the matter?