HC Deb 01 December 1911 vol 32 cc963-4W
Sir HILDRED CARLILE

asked whether, in the event of the National Insurance Bill becoming law, he would consider the advisability of substituting an annual domestic servant licence for the proposed weekly or quarterly postage stamp contributions from employers, such licence to relieve the employer from all further responsibility for the collection of contributions from his or her servants under the Bill?

Mr. McKINNON WOOD

There is an Amendment standing on the Paper dealing with this proposal, which I have no doubt will be discussed this afternoon.

Mr. FRED HALL (Dulwich)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the manner in which the insurance of domestic servants is at present arranged under the National Insurance Bill, whereby the mistress, in affixing the monthly tax-stamps, is compelled to deduct from her servant's wages the latter's contribution, he will so modify the measure that, instead of the mistress having to purchase stamps of double value, both mistress and servant shall separately obtain and affix each month a stamp representing the amount of her own contribution, thereby placing the onus of any non-compliance with regulations on the party resisting the same?

Mr. McKINNON WOOD

My right hon. Friend is unable to adopt the hon. Member's suggestion. Compulsory insurance would be unworkable except on the basis of the primary liability of the employer for the contribution of the employé.