87. Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTasked the Minister of Labour whether he is advised that cleaners employed by a municipal authority to clean lodging houses carried on by the authority are not employed in a business carried on for the purposes of gain within the meaning of the Unemployment Insurance Act, and that therefore such cleaners are not insurable against unemployment; whether this decision extends to the employés in other municipal undertakings such as gas and water supply, tramways, electricity, etc.; and, if not, why not?
§ Dr. MACNAMARACleaners employed by municipal authorities to clean municipal lodging houses are excepted from insurance as being domestic servants not 38 employed in a trade or business carried on for purposes of gain. As regards the last part of the question, the employés of the undertakings mentioned are, in general, insurable, unless specifically excepted by certificates issued under paragraph (d) of Part II of the First Schedule of the 1920 Act. Authoritative decisions with regard to particular cases may be given by me on application under Section 10 of the Act but, in view of the responsibility placed on me by this Section, I could not undertake to give any such decision without full particulars of the individual case.
Mr. SCOTTIn view of the statement that the cleaners employed in municipal lodging-houses are exempted from insurance, may I ask whether the cleaners employed in ordinary lodging-houses are also exempted?
§ Dr. MACNAMARASpeaking offhand, I should say not. Broadly speaking, the municipal institutions are the dividing line, not being run for profit.
Mr. SCOTTIs road-making carried on municipally carried on for gain or profit or not, and are employés engaged in road-making exempt or not?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThat is exactly a point where I could not undertake to give an answer off-hand, and without full particulars of the case.
Mr. SCOTTMay I not ask whether all employment of road-making is not similar, and why cannot the right hon. Gentleman give a decision as to whether or not it is employment for gain?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAYes, but not offhand.
§ Mr. SPEAKERQuestion 88. [See col. 16.]