§ 17. Mr. SINKINSONasked the Minister of Labour if legislation is contemplated to provide unemployment benefits to the people in the fishing industry?
§ Miss BONDFIELDPersons employed in the fishing industry are ordinarily insurable against unemployment, and therefore eligible for benefit subject to the usual conditions, unless they are members of the crew of a fishing vessel who are wholly remunerated by a share in the profits or the gross earnings of the working of the vessel. I cannot at present give any undertaking to introduce legislation dealing with this excepted class.
§ Mr. ALPASSWhen the matter of extending the scope of Unemployment Insurance benefit is under consideration, will the right hon. Lady favourably consider this, because it is a matter of grave concern?
§ Miss BONDFIELDThe question of the share fishermen has been considered by every Minister in turn, and there are very grave administrative difficulties, but I will consider it.
§ Major McKENZIE WOODIs there any evidence that the share fishermen desire this?
§ Miss BONDFIELDThey desired to contract out when the Act was first passed, but I think that their opinion has slightly changed.