HC Deb 25 November 1925 vol 188 cc1358-9
53. Sir F. SANDERSON

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that there is a sense of injustice among certain persons in regard to the fact that contributions for Unemployment Insurance have to be paid in respect of domestic servants employed in premises used for business purposes; and whether, in view of the fact that this falls very hardly upon a large class of persons of limited means, especially at holiday resorts, who keep small boarding houses, or even take one paying guest, and that the insurance is of no benefit to the employé because there is no unemployment in domestic service, he will consider taking steps to have the Act amended so as to place all domestic servants on the same footing as regards exemption from Unemployment Insurance?

75. Captain T. J. O'CONNOR

asked the Minister of Labour whether, with a view to removing the grievance felt by domestic servants that their employment is not an insurable occupation so as to entitle them to Unemployment Insurance benefit under the Act, and in view of the reluctance on this account of many women to enter domestic service, he proposes to take any steps to include domestic service as an insurable occupation?

Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND

The hon. Member for Luton asks that all domestic servants should be included in the insurance scheme and the hon. Member for Darwen that they should be all excluded. The arrangement under which domestic service in general is excluded from the Unemployment Insurance scheme, but not if the domestic servant is employed in a trade or business carried on for the purpose of gain, naturally gives rise to a certain amount of difficulty. The Committee on Unemployment Insurance which I recently appointed will doubtless include this matter in their consideration, and pending their report I cannot express any opinion about the possibility or desirability of making any change in the existing law.

Sir F. SANDERSON

Is the right hon. Gentleman certain that the Committee will consider the case of agricultural labourers?

Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND

I have very little doubt that they will.