NATIONAL INSURANCE. (Hansard, 25 July 1912)

THE EARL OF MAYO
My Lords, I rise to ask His Majesty's Government what weekly contribution is required from employer and employed in respect of domestic servants being members of English approved societies who are employed for a part of the year in Ireland; and whether, if the contributions are to be throughout at the English rates, such persons will be entitled to the full English benefits when employed in Ireland; or if the contributions are to be at the Irish rates during that part of the year when they are employed in Ireland, they will nevertheless be entitled to the same benefits as if they had paid the full contributions on the English scale throughout the year. I admit that this is a difficult conundrum, but I hope the Government will be able to answer it in at all events a fairly satisfactory manner.

§ LORD WILLINGDON
My Lords, I regret that my noble friend Lord Liverpool, who has hitherto replied to Questions on the National Insurance Act, is unable to be present to-day. In his absence I have been asked to give the following answer to the noble Earl. Contributions are payable at the English rate while the servants are actually in England (i.e., in normal cases 7d. a week for men and 6d. a week for women, of which 4d. and 3d. a week respectively may be deducted from wages), and at the Irish rate while the servants are actually in Ireland (i.e., in normal cases 5½d. a week for men and 4½d. a week for women, of which 3d. and 2d. a week respectively may be deducted from wages). While the servants are in England they will, under the ordinary conditions, be entitled to all the ordinary benefits of the Act, including medical benefit or a money equivalent. While the servants are in Ireland they will be entitled to the ordinary benefits as in England, with the exception of medical benefit.

§ LORD HENEAGE
I rise to ask His Majesty's Government whether those workers who have been induced by the National Insurance Committee's leaflets to join friendly societies which had been approved previous to July 15 and may now or in future desire to transfer their cards of membership to other more suitable societies will be able to do so, and under what conditions. The reason I ask this Question is that we have formed a large rural workers' association in Lincolnshire and have already got some 22,000 members. There are a large number of small societies who would like to join it and become affiliated, but a difficulty has arisen. Many of their members, frightened by the leaflet which was circulated a mouth ago, have already become members of the Prudential and other societies, and they do not know whether they would be allowed to transfer their cards to a society which would be of much greater benefit to them.

§ LORD WILLINGDON
The advice given on the leaflets published by the National Health Insurance Commission is entirely justified. Until a person has been accepted as a member of an approved society he risks prejudicing his admission, either through breakdown of his health in the meantime or through the possibility of the conditions of admission being made more stringent. At present the bulk of approved societies are accepting members practically without any medical test. It is possible that conditions will be made more stringent after the class of deposit contributors has once been formed. Neglect to look for a society now may easily continue until the opportunity is lost unless specific warning is given of the need for early action. In addition, full advice as to his position and rights under the Act will most readily be obtained when the individual has behind him the assistance of an approved society of which he has become a member. If a person who has joined one society desires to transfer to another he must give due notice, to the first society of his intention to withdraw. Transfers are regulated by Section 31 of the National Insurance Act, under which consent to withdrawal cannot be unreasonably withheld by a society; and the Commissioners would be disposed to consider that a society would be acting unreasonably in refusing consent to withdraw in the case of persons who had joined a society hurriedly without much con- 730 sideration and who desired to withdraw for the purpose of joining a society appearing to them to be better suited to their circumstances and requirements. Persons who have become members of an approved society cannot transfer their membership to another society merely by handing their contribution cards upon expiry to the second society. Transfers must in all cases be effected in accordance with the provisions of the Act and of the Regulations, and the original card must be surrendered to the society which issued it. The necessary adjustments in respect to contributions already paid will, of course, be made when the transfer is carried out.

§ LORD HENEAGE
Each person will have to apply individually for transfer?

§ LORD WILLINGDON
I gather that is so.

§ LORD HENEAGE
Then a small club or society will not be able to become affiliated if a great number of their members have become members of another approved society?

CONTENTS.
Wellington, D.	Powis, E.	Digby, L.
	Shaftesbury, E.	Harris, L.
Lansdowne, M.	Vane, E. (M. Londonderry.)	Heneage, L.
	Verulam, E.	Hindlip, L. [Teller.]
Camperdown, E.	Waldegrave, E.	Hylton, L.
Eldon, E.		Kilmarnock, L. (E. Erroll.)
Halsbury, E.	Falkland, V.	Lamington, L.
Lichfield, E.	Hill, V.	Lawrence, L.
Londesborough, E.	St. Aldwyn, V. [Teller.]	Ludlow, L.
Malmesbury, E.		Newlands, L.
Mar and Kellie, E.	Balfour, L.	Oranmore and Browne, L.
Mayo, E.	Barrymore, L.	St. Levan, L.
Minto, E.	Clinton, L.	Sherborne, L.
Morton, E.	De Mauley, L.

NOT-CONTENTS.
Haldane, V. (L. Chancellor.)	Allendale, V.	Haversham, L.
Crewe, M. (L. Privy Seal.)		Herschell, L. [Teller.]
	Sandhurst, L. (L. Chamberlain.)	Lucas, L.
	Blyth, L.	Southwark, L.
Lincolnshire, M.	Channing, L.	Strachie, L.
	Charnwood, L.	Swaythling, L.
Chesterfield, E. (L. Steward.)	Colebrooke, L. [Teller.]	Welby, L.
Craven, E.	Granard, L. (E. Granard.)	Willingdon, L.