§ 58. Sir J. D. REESasked whether, in view of the fact that married women out-workers were declared subject to insurance tax by the Commissioners and not by Parliament, the Amendment Bill will provide for their exclusion, which, after experience, they desire?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe Order to which the hon. Member refers was made by the Commissioners under the powers vested in them by the proviso to Section 1 (2) of the National Insurance Act, and it was made on the recommendation of Sir Ernest Hatch's Committee, which inquiried fully into the position of married women out-workers. Objection having been taken to the Provisional Order, Mr. Pope was appointed to hold an inquiry, and he reported strongly against excluding married women outworkers from insurance. It is not intended to provide for their exclusion in the Amending Bill.
§ Sir J. D. REESDoes not a perusal of Mr. Pope's report show that the desire of the married outworkers was not to be included?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI should have thought the evidence was overwhelming the other way. In fact, everyone representing the outworkers asked to have them included.
§ Sir J. D. REESDid they not declare that it would lead to their losing their work?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThat may be, but there is not the slightest doubt they wanted to be included.