§ 63. Mr. Simmondsasked the Minister of Labour from what source industrial organisations will be reimbursed for payments they make to employés under Statutory Order No. 302 of 1941, for maintaining on full pay employés for whom there is temporarily no work?
§ Mr. TomlinsonThe position as regards reimbursement of these payments is the same as in any other case in which the obligation to pay minimum rates of wages is imposed by law.
§ Mr. SimmondsCan my hon. Friend say how industrialists who are manufacturing on fixed-price contracts for the Government or for the export trade can hope to reimburse themselves with these amounts? Will he say whether it has been considered what obligations the Unemployment Insurance Fund might have to undertake in making contributions in those cases?
§ Mr. TomlinsonNotice would need to be given of the latter part of the question in order that a full answer might be given. With regard to the first part, I suggest that they should take the same steps as are taken by other people who do exactly the same thing in normal circumstances.
§ Mr. SimmondsBut this money cannot be obtained from exporters or from extras on Government contracts, and how 442 are industrialists to find this money, particularly when they are small men?
§ Mr. TomlinsonThis arises only as and when supplies may be short or for some other reason an industry is unable to function. In these circumstances, if cases of particular hardship are brought to the notice of the Ministry, inquiries will have to be made. May I also suggest that the Assistance Board will always be amenable to reason when such cases come before them?
§ Mr. GallacherIf any employers are in difficulties, cannot they apply to the Public Assistance Committee?
§ Mr. TomlinsonI have just intimated that.