HC Deb 24 February 1915 vol 70 cc336-7

Order for Second Reading read.

Mr. ROBERTSON

I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a second time."

It has been found, as one of the results of the War, that a certain number of contractors have taken contracts for the carrying out of work on the Continent. A number of the men so employed, and a number of the employers employing them, have continued the process of stamping the books in order to keep up the unemployment insurance of those workmen under the Act. We have no power to accept such stamps, and the whole purpose of this Bill is to enable us to accept such stamps. I think that the House will agree that it would be undesirable to prevent the continuance of insurance in such cases where the employers and the men are willing to do so. As the matter stands, we are unable to accept the stamps. The purpose of the Bill is simply to make it possible for us, during the continuance of the War, and for one year afterwards, to permit the continuance of insurance in respect of these men, purely as a voluntary matter.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill read a second time, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House, for To-morrow.