§ 5. Mr. Burkeasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that meat pitchers at wholesale meat markets, while coming under national health insurance, are not covered for unemployment insurance; and will he, therefore, consider the desirability of bringing this class of labour into line with the rest of the employes in the industry by putting them under the national unemployment insurance scheme?
§ Mr. E. BrownI understand that these men are not employed under a contract of service and consequently are not included in the general scheme of unemployment insurance. They could not be included without an amendment of the law, as to which I can give no undertaking.
§ Mr. BurkeIs the Minister aware that the conditions of the work of these men are similar to those of the men with whom they work, and that when one class is unemployed the other is automatically unemployed also?
§ Mr. BrownYes, but the hon. Member knows that the custom of the trade is a very different one, for there is not a contract of service. There are other bodies of workers in a similar position.
§ Mr. LawsonThese men are regularly employed and they have to be insured under the National Health Insurance. Is it not rather an evasion of the law to say that they are not under a contract of service when they would be insurable in ordinary circumstances in any other industry?
§ Mr. BrownThe hon. Gentleman is, I think, unwittingly putting a point of view which the Ministry does not share. It is always our desire to keep as many people insured as we can.
§ Mr. BurkeWill the right hon. Gentleman be prepared to receive a deputation from the Distributive Workers' Union which covers these men?