25. Mr. WORTHINGTON-EVANSasked whether a journalist, who is also a Law Courts shorthand writer, a reporter of sermons on Sundays, and who gives private tuition in shorthand, is compulsorily insurable because he also acts, at a remuneration of £60 per annum, for two hours a day as a shorthand writer to a firm of engineers, and at what rate per annum the Insurance Commissioners calculate the equivalent of £60 a year for two hours a day; whether a shorthand writer is for the purpose of the Act deemed to be a manual labourer; and, if such a person is compulsorily insurable, why the 1649 Commissioners object to so stating in writing?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe person referred to in the question would not be compulsorily insurable in respect of his employment by the firm of engineers since employment as a shorthand writer is not employment by way of manual labour within the meaning of the National Insurance Act, and a payment of £60 a year for two hours work per day would be regarded as equivalent to a rate of remuneration exceeding £160 a year for whole-time service. The exact duration of work which would be held to constitute whole-time service must be determined in any case of doubt by reference to the custom in the particular trade and locality.
§ Mr. MASTERMANI have said the exact duration must be determined by reference to custom in the calling.
Mr. WORTHINGTON-EVANSWill the right hon. Gentleman see that questions put to the Commissioners in these matters are answered in writing?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI do not quite gather what the hon. Member means.