§ 36. Mr. D. G. SOMERVILLEasked the Minister of Labour the result of the consideration given, as promised, by his Department to the proposal of insurance by industries and to the Watson Report on the insurance scheme as a whole?
§ Sir M. BARLOWI wrote on 28th November, 1922, to the National Confederation of Employers' Organisations and the Trades Union Congress General Council inviting their views on the question of unemployment insurance by industries, and I am at present awaiting replies from these organisations. From inquiry which I made recently, I understand they still have the matter under consideration. The Inter-Departmental Committee on Health and Unemployment Insurance has made three interim Reports. Action has been taken in accordance with the recommendations of the first two Reports. The Third Report recommended the abolition of refunds to insured workers at the age of 60 and a modification of the rule limiting covenanted benefit in relation to the number of contributions paid; these recommendations could not be adopted -without legislation.
§ 37. Mr. SOMERVILLEalso asked the Minister of Labour the present number of workers who come under the provisions of the Unemployment Insurance Act; and whether they do all contribute when actually in employment?
§ Sir M. BARLOWThe total number of persons falling under the provisions of the Unemployment Insurance Scheme in Great Britain is estimated at about 11,500,000. There are naturally a certain number of cases of failure on the part of employers and workmen to pay contributions, but, generally speaking, contributions are duly paid by all of them. I may add that the unemployment insurance contributions from employers and employed at the present time amount to about £34,000,000 per annum.