§ 37. Mr. BUTCHERasked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the Insurance Commissioners, whether he will state for what specific reason, if any, potato pickers are exempt from insurance under the National Insurance Act, while potato gatherers are not exempt; and whether he will communicate with the President of the Board of Agriculture with a view to remedying this state of affairs?
§ Mr. W. BENNEmployment as a potato picker is only excepted from compulsory insurance where the person employed is not already an insured person.
§ Mr. BUTCHERCan the hon. Gentleman say what is the difference between these people?
§ Mr. W. BENNI do not know that there is any difference.
§ Mr. BUTCHERThen why is one exempt from the Insurance Act and the other not?
§ Mr. W. BENNThe answer is that one is exempt and the other is not.
§ Mr. BUTCHERBut are they not both in exactly the same position?
§ Mr. W. BENNThey are in precisely the same position. Where a man is usually an insured person an effort is made to keep him in insurance, but when he is not an insured person he is not brought into insurance in respect of this employment.