§ Mr. RAMSAY MACDONALD (by Private Notice)asked the President of the Board 2478 of Trade whether he has had any representations from the National Boot and Shoe Operatives in opposition to their being included in the Act extending the operation of the Unemployment Section of the National Insurance Act, and whether he would exercise the powers he has under the Act and postpone to a date later than 1st September the application of the Act to this industry?
§ Mr. PRETYMANThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, there is no power under the Act to postpone its application to a particular industry which is included in the Schedule. Any postponement would have to be general, applying to the Act as a whole, and having regard to the importance of bringing insurance into force at the earliest possible date, the Board of Trade cannot see their way to any such general postponement. As regards the boot and shoe trade, I may add that the matter has been fully discussed with a deputation of the union in question, but I am not satisfied that even if it were possible there would be a good case either for postponing insurance in this trade or for excluding it from insurance altogether.
§ Mr. MACDONALDIs the hon. Gentleman aware that this trade was placed in the Act without any knowledge whatever of the facts, and that it did not discover that it was in until the Bill had become an Act of Parliament?
§ Mr. PRETYMANMy hon. Friend should have raised that question when the Bill was before the House. If he is representing that industry, then would have been his opportunity.