§ 58. Mr. MACQUISTENasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that a percentage of the men engaged in the fishing industry from time to time and by no fault of their own fail to earn sufficient in the fishing season to tide themselves over the off season and are thus driven on to public assistance; and will he take steps to have the industry taken into Unemployment Insurance?
§ Mr. E. BROWNI assume that my hon. and learned Friend is referring to share fishermen and the question of including them in the Unemployment Insurance Scheme. The Unemployment Insurance Statutory Committee presented their report on this matter on 22nd October, and I propose to publish it immediately.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENDoes the Minister realise that these fishermen have suffered from a sense of hardship because they were taken into National Health Insurance when they did not want it, as they were all healthy?
§ Mr. BROWNI think my hon. and learned Friend is in error there; his information is rather out of date. Since the pensions scheme was bound up with Health Insurance they have been very keen to be within it. I shall have to consider the report and see how closely it applies to the unemployment situation in the industry.