HC Deb 27 June 1921 vol 143 c1901

Part II of the First Schedule to the principal Act as amended by the Second Schedule to the Act of 1921, shall have effect as though there were inserted at the end of paragraph (d) thereof the following words: "and provided further that in the case of employment under a local or other public authority the Minister may, if any enactment relating to the superannuation of persons in that employment provides for the aggregation of service in that employment under two or more employers, whether the service has been continuous or not, treat such service for the purposes of the foregoing provision as if it had been service in the same employment."—[Sir R. Newman.]

Brought up, and read the First time.

Sir ROBERT NEWMAN

I beg to move, "That the Clause be read a Second time."

The object of this Clause is to enable those working under the authority of a Poor Law administration to be able to continue their unemployment benefit from one authority to another. As the matter stands, if an employé under a Poor Law authority has been employed in that administration for three years they can get out of the liability of the Act, but as the law stands, if an official gets promotion after five or six years he has to go back again and start all over again as far as contributions under this Act are concerned, and that seems to me to be absurd.

Lieut.-Colonel BUCHANAN

I beg to second the Motion.

Dr. MACNAMARA

As I stated in reply to the first Amendment, there are certain classes excepted by the Schedule and certain others that may be excepted. In its original form my hon. Friend's Amendment was much too wide, but I should have no objection to accepting it in the amended form, which will give him what he wants.

Sir R. NEWMAN

I have proposed it in the amended form.

Dr. MACNAMARA

Then I will accept it.

Mr. SPENCER

Does this mean that certain sections will have a right to contract out?

Dr. MACNAMARA

No.

Clause read a Second time, and added to the Bill.