HC Deb 02 May 1928 vol 216 cc1700-1
23. Mr. WELLOCK

asked the Minister of Labour whether it is the intention to regard the sugar-beet industry as a seasonal occupation within the terms of the Unemployment Insurance Act, and thus to exempt all workers in that industry from the benefits of the Act?

Mr. BETTERTON

From the information at present in my possession, it would appear that in the sugar-beet industry there are seasonal occupations within the meaning of the Acts. Workers in such occupations will not, however, automatically become exempt persons. They will become exempt only if they apply for exemption, and then only if they satisfy the condition that they are not ordinarily employed in some other insurable employment.

Mr. KELLY

Does that mean that the individual workman who is engaged in the sugar-beet industry will be entitled to make application for exemption from the Insurance Act?

Mr. BETTERTON

It means that if the seasonal occupation, as the hon. Member knows, is for a period of 18 weeks or less in a year, then he will be entitled to apply for exemption, assuming, of course, that the rest of his work is uninsured.

Mr. E. BROWN

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether in that case the employer's contribution is payable?

Mr. BETTERTON

Yes, Sir.

At 16th April, 1928, there were 3,526 boys and 3,311 girls on the Live Registers of Employment Exchanges in Yorkshire.
The following table shows the places in Yorkshire where Juvenile Unemployment Centres are at present open, and the number of boys and girls in attendance during the week ended 20th April, 1928:
Town. Average daily attendances during week. Total number of individual juveniles who attended at any time during week.
Boys. Girls. Total. Boys. Girls. Total.
Hull … 79 59 138 901 72 162
Leeds … 74 — 74 97 — 97
Middlesbrough … 66 — 66 93 — 93
Sheffield … 129 78 207 186 110 296
Total … 348 137 485 466 182 648
It is understood that the question of setting up Juvenile Unemployment Centres at Barnsley and Selby is under consideration by the Local Education Authorities concerned.
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