HC Deb 21 March 1950 vol 472 cc1756-7
44. Mr. A. R. W. Low

asked the Minister of National Insurance on what grounds she has decided that a national insurance card in respect of a member of the Territorial Army must be stamped by the civil employers of the member concerned and not by the Army authority; and why she penalises in this way employers who encourage their staff to join the Territorial Army.

Dr. Summerskill

No such decision has been given by my Department. I assume that the hon. Member has in mind mem- bers of the Territorial Army attending annual camps. In such cases the cards for the period of attendance at camps are normally stamped by the Army authority.

Mr. Low

Would not the right hon. Lady agree that recently she has issued a regulation which prescribes that if the civilian employer makes any payments to the member of the Territorial Army while he is in camp, that employer must stamp the card or part of it?

Dr. Summerskill

I think the hon. Gentleman is under a slight misapprehension. The regulations governing these contributions are the same as those which govern the contributions made for the man who is engaged by two civil employers at the same time. He may be engaged by one in the morning and one in the afternoon. In those cases, the man who employs him in the morning is liable for the contribution. If the Territorial goes to camp on Saturday his civil employer is liable for the contribution for the preceding week, but the Territorial Army is liable for the succeeding week.

Mr. Low

Will the right hon. Lady have a talk with her right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War to ensure that this regulation does not penalise either the man who goes to camp or the employer who pays him wages?

Dr. Summerskill

I am now consulting with the Service Departments in order that the hon. Gentleman shall be under no further misapprehension.