HC Deb 23 March 1936 vol 310 cc976-8

8.45 p.m.

Mr. TURTON

I beg to move, in page 12, line 10, at the end, to insert: 2. Employment in agriculture (other than forestry) for a period of less than a week of a person who is an occupier of more than ten acres of land. I raised this point in Committee upstairs on a similar Amendment referring to a smallholder of five acres of land. The Parliamentary Secretary said that he would look into the point before the Report stage. It was raised before the Statutory Committee by the representatives of the National Union of Agricultural Workers and the Central Landowners' Association. The House will appreciate that if these two bodies join in making the same request there must be considerable weight in it. The position is that in many parts of the country smallholders working their own land give assistance to farmers during certain times of the year. These men have no risk of unemployment at all, because when they are not working for the farmer they are working on their own holdings, and it would be a fraud upon them if they were forced to pay contributions when they could not ever satisfy the first statutory condition for drawing benefit. I know that the Minister has certain powers and he may be able to say that they cover my point, but we who represent agricultural constituencies feel that these men should also have an assurance from the right hon. Gentleman that he will exercise those powers in their favour and exclude them from the provisions of this scheme.

8.47 p.m.

Sir J. LAMB

I beg to second the Amendment.

Smallholdings vary considerably in their character in different districts. If a man has a smallholding which is mostly of grass or all grass, he will probably be able to take ordinary employment elsewhere and come into insurance. Where, however, he has a holding for specialised purposes he will be fully employed, and it is better that he should spend all his time on his land without going to work elsewhere. One of the greatest factors of success in smallholdings is that of friendly co-operation among the holders and agriculturists in a district. There are many cases where a man who has a smallholding receives help by the loan of implements, horses and other assistance at particular times. That man is able at times to be of great assistance to the farmer by giving him a couple of days threshing. It is purely casual work, but not of the kind that displaces other casual labour of a regular kind. It is intermittent, and the class of man who does it should have the advantage of being employed without having to be insured.

8.49 p.m.

Mr. E. BROWN

I am much obliged to my hon. Friend for calling attention to this important point. The smaller of the two issues that he raised is covered by Section 5 (1) (c) and Section 5 (1) (d) of the principal Act, where there are enough powers to do what he requires. The major issue which he raised is rather different. The Statutory Committee have recommended that the matter should be dealt with by regulations, but I am not sure whether the power I already possess is enough. If it is not, I will before another stage take such powers as are necessary to make what is on all sides agreed to be a necessary provision.

Mr. TURTON

In view of my right hon. Friend's assurance, I beg to ask leave to withdraw the Amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Amendment made: In page 12, line 11, leave out from "gardener," to the end of the paragraph.—[Mr. E. Brown.]