HC Deb 21 July 1920 vol 186 cc2075-6
Mr. SPEAKER

With regard to the Amendment which stands in the name of the hon. and learned Member for South Shields (Mr. Harney)—to insert a new Sub-section at the end of Sub-section (5) —there is some question as to whether it is already covered, and I understand that the hon. Member desires to ask a question about it.

Mr. LEES-SMITH

I beg to move, in page 15, line 36, at the end, to insert the words: (6) Where an uninsured man marries n woman by or in respect of whom one hundred and four contributions have been paid under this Act he may, if he gives notice within the prescribed time after the marriage and in the prescribed manner, become a voluntary contributor under the Insurance Act. I move this Amendment formally, as the hon. and learned Member for South Shields (Mr. Harney) is not in his place, in order to ask a question on a point as to which we are not clear. At the present moment, if a woman is insured, and marries, her husband may become a voluntary contributor in virtue of her insurance. That applies to the normal case of the insured woman. The point on which we are in doubt is as to the position of women in excepted employment. The question is whether if they marry uninsured men the husbands can become voluntary contributors on account of the occupation of the women. The point is that although these women are not insured in the ordinary sense, we are not clear as to whether they are technically insured for the purpose of bringing the husbands within the provision of the Bill. The second point is as to the position with regard to those special employers, the 350 special firms who have schemes of their own with benefits equivalent to those provided under the Bill. That is the case of excepted employment of a rather peculiar character. If a woman is in a firm which has adopted one of these special schemes, and if she marries, can her husband become a voluntary contributor on account of her position within that scheme? If that is not the case our argument is that provision ought to be made. The woman ought to forfeit nothing, because she happens to be, without her own consent, in a special scheme which the Government have permitted. It is in order to secure the position of women in these schemes, of exempted women and of women in excepted employments, that the Amendment has been put down.

Mr. SPENCER

I beg to second the Amendment.

Sir K. WOOD

We have given consideration to this Amendment in the light of the cases which the hon. Gentleman has just put, and which we anticipated might be raised. We are advised that Clause 13, Sub-section (4), covers all these cases, and that its language is wide enough to apply to exempted persons, to persons in excepted employment, and to persons in special schemes.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.