60. Mr. T. WILSONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has suspended the operation of Sub section (1) of Section 106 of Part II. of the National Insurance Act; if so, whether he is aware that associations of workmen that made arrangements under Section 105 of the Act, and who are paying officials to perform the necessary work, will not be able to pay the salaries of these officials unless they use their private funds; and whether he will make a grant to these associations to enable them to pay the expenses that they are put to in administering the Act?
Mr. HARCOURTIn view of the necessity for effecting all possible economies in the charges upon the National Exchequer and the urgent demand for labour, notice was given in February last to associations of workmen that the Grants under Section 106 of the National Insurance Act would be suspended at the end of May. In consequence, however, of representations made by leading trade union organisations to the Board of Trade, it has been decided to continue the Grants as from 31st May, 1916, on the basis of a repayment of one-twelfth instead of one-sixth of the expenditure of associations on un-employment benefit. It is estimated that even on the new basis the repayments under Section 106 will be more than sufficient to cover the cost incurred by associations in administering arrangements ments under Section 105 in cases where the associations have arrangements under the latter Section.