HC Deb 07 November 1912 vol 43 cc1445-6W
Mr. GOLDSMITH

asked the Secretary to the Treasury the number of cases in which legal proceedings have been taken against an employer for non-payment of his contribution under the National Insurance Act in England, Scotland, and Ireland respectively?

Major HENDERSON

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state the number of persons in England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, respectively, that it is estimated should be insured under the National Insurance Act as employed contributors; for how many, in each country, fully-stamped cards were returned for the first quarter; in bow many instances in each country it has been ascertained that employers have failed to. work the Act; and how many prosecutions have been initiated in each country?

Mr. MASTERMAN

I propose to take Questions 95 and 98 together. The estimated numbers of employed contributors in approved societies in England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, as given in the Actuaries' Report (Cd. 5983), are 9,461,000, 1,395,000, 771,000, and 577,000 respectively. The first quarter cards are now being scheduled, and it will not be possible to give their numbers for a few weeks. Prosecutions are instituted in cases of deliberate and persistent noncompliance with the Act. With regard to the number of cases in which this has been necessary I would refer to the answer I gave to the hon. Members for Great Yarmouth and Denbigh District on 14th and 28th October. Since the latter date proceedings have been instituted in two cases in England and in three cases in Ireland.