§ 3.20 p.m.
§ LORD BOWLESMy Lords, the purpose of these Regulations is to take account of the increase in contribution rates and benefit rates made by the National Insurance Act, 1964. We call these Regulations Mariners Regulations, because "mariner" is the word used in the relevant section of the National Insurance Act, 1964. But the word "mariner" in that section covers many people who are working on board a ship but who are not members of the crew, as for example, ship repair workers and Post Office sorters. The Merchant Shipping Acts use the word "seaman", and this word occurs in the name of the National Union of Seamen. But I understand that the men like to be known as seafarers, and this is the word I shall use to-day to cover masters and members of the crew of a ship.
When a seafarer who is domiciled, or has a place of residence, in this country is employed on board a foreign-going ship, his employer pays the employer's share of the National Insurance contribution at a slightly reduced rate. The justification for this rebate is that the employer has a statutory liability under the Merchant Shipping Acts to continue paying full wages to seafarers who fall ill while they are at sea or meet with any accident which makes them unfit for work. In view of this liability on the employer, the seafarer does not receive sickness benefit until he is put ashore, either in this country or abroad, and his articles of agreement are terminated. Thus, there is a saving to the National Insurance Fund. The rebate from the employer's contribution is at present 10d. a week. These Regulations will increase the rebate to 1s. 1d. a week as from March 29, when contribution rates will be increased under the 1964 Act.
The Minister of Pensions and National Insurance is making these Regulations under her Power to modify the National Insurance Acts in relation to mariners. She does not need to submit the Regulations to the National Insurance Advisory Committee, because she is making them 1272 under the 1964 Act. But the Regulations have to be laid before Parliament and approved by Resolution of each House. The Regulations follow the pattern of several previous sets of Regulations which have increased the rebate from time to time to take account of increases in contribution rates and benefit rates.
The Regulations apply only to foreign-going ships. It would be inappropriate to apply them to home-trade ships, for if a seafarer falls ill in a home-trade ship he can generally be put ashore for medical treatment within a day or two. If he fell ill in a foreign-going ship, he might receive full wages for a period of several weeks during which he was being carried back as an invalid by the ship in which he had signed articles. Under the old scheme of National Health Insurance, there was a similar rebate, applying only to foreign-going ships. 'Shipowners have never asked for a rebate in respect of home-trade ships.
The regulations apply to radio officers serving on board ships, whether they are employed directly by the shipowner or by a wireless company. So far as possible, the various sets of National Insurance (Mariners) Regulations apply to radio officers in the same way as they apply to other seafarers. But a few-modifications are necessary to take account of the fact that many radio officers are not employees of the shipowner. The Minister has consulted the National Maritime Board which represents both sides of the shipping industry, and the Board has assured her that its members agree with the changes made by the Regulations. I beg to move that the Regulations be approved.
§ Moved, That the Draft National Insurance (Mariners) Amendment Regulations 1965, laid before the House on 9th February, be approved.—(Lord Bowles.)
§ LORD DRUMALBYNMy Lords, may I simply thank the noble Lord for the very clear exposition that he has given to these Regulations, which I think will commend themselves to the House.
§ LORD BOWLESI am grateful to the noble Lord.
§ VISCOUNT STUART OF FINDHORNMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord 1273 what is the objection to the use of the word "mariners", considering that it is in the Title of the Regulations?
§ LORD BOWLESI did not object to it, my Lords. The position is that the word "mariner" applies to more people than the master and members of the crew of a ship. As I said, it applies to men on board sorting the mail, and also to people doing repairs to the ship. They are "mariners" under the 1964 Act, but these Regulations do not apply to them. They apply only to masters and members of the crews of ships, including radio officers and so on; they do not apply to postal sorters and other people of that kind.
§ VISCOUNT STUART OF FINDHORNI thank the noble Lord.
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.