HC Deb 23 November 1916 vol 87 cc1697-8

(1) There shall be added to the classes of persons, employment of whom may be excepted from the provisions of Part I. of the National Insurance Act, 1911, by special order made under paragraph of the First Schedule to that Act, persons who, not being persons whose normal occupation is employment within the meaning of that Act, are temporarily employed on or about any agricultral holding in consequence of the loss of men through enlistment, or transference to Government service, or other circumstances arising out of the present War.

(2) A special order made under this Section shall have effect only during the continuance of the present War and for such time thereafter as may be provided by or under the Order, and the exemption conferred by the Order shall be subject to such conditions and limitations as may be specified therein.

(3) The provisions of Part I. of the National Insurance Act, 1911, as to the laying of Regulations before both Houses of Parliament and the proceedings consequent thereon shall apply to special Orders made under this Section and Section one hundred and thirteen of the said Act shall not apply thereto.

Mr. HAZLETON

I beg to move, in Sub-section (2), after the word "Order"["under the Order"], to insert the words" not exceeding six months after the end of the War."

This a War measure, and it is anticipated that it will not be required to operate for any lengthened period after the termination of the War. A special Order is to be made to put the provisions of this Bill, when it becomes an Act, into operation, and Sub-section (2) of Clause 1 says the Order "shall have effect only during the continuance of the present War, and for such time thereafter as may be provided by arrangement under the Order." I think that power is too wide a power, and that the intention of the Bill clearly is that this should not continue for any great period after the War, and we ought to put that in the Bill. That would prevent the Bill, or any Order under it, going further than was the intention of Parliament.

Mr. C. ROBERTS (Comptroller of the Household)

I accept the Amendment, which is quite right, and carries out what was intended.

Amendment agreed to.

Clause, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

CLAUSE 2 (Short Title) ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Bill reported, with an Amendment; as amended, considered; read the third time, and passed.

The remaining Orders were read, and postponed.