HC Deb 06 July 1916 vol 83 cc1704-5

  1. (1) This Act may be cited as the National Insurance (Part II.) (Munition Workers) Act, 1916, and the National Insurance Act, 1911, so far as it relates to unemployment insurance, and National Insurance (Part II. Amendment) Act, 1914, the National Insurance (Part II. Amendment) Act, 1915, and this Act may be cited together as the National Insurance (Unemployment) Acts, 1911 to 1916.
  2. (2) This Act shall come into operation on the fourth day of September, nineteen hundred and sixteen, or such later date, not being later than the first day of January, nineteen hundred and seventeen, as the Board of Trade may direct.

Mr. W. THORNE

I beg to move, in Sub-section (2), to leave out the words "fourth day of September," and to insert instead thereof the words "second day of October."

The reason I want to move this Amendment is that the latter date will be more convenient to organised workers. Most of the workmen's organisations make up their financial statements, either quarterly or half-yearly, and if the Government can see their way to accept this Amendment, it would be much more convenient, and I do not think it would make any difference to the Government.

Mr. PRETYMAN

I appreciate the point which my hon. Friend has made, but if he looks at the Bill he will see that we have power to alter the date of bringing it in, and I hope that he will be content. We shall be happy to consult him about it, but we are anxious to bring in the Bill at the earliest possible moment. I am quite aware that under this Bill and Clause 105 of the original Act arrangements will have to be made by organised labour for bringing the Act into operation, and it is quite obvious that we cannot work the Act satisfactorily until those arrangements have been made, but we are very anxious to get the contributions started at the earliest possible moment.

Mr. THORNE

I beg leave to withdraw the Amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Question, "That the Clause stand part of the Bill," put, and agreed to.

Mr. THORNE and Mr. TOOTILL

had given notice of the following new Clause and Schedule: