§ Viscount WOLMERasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the fact that the Earlestown Industrial Co-operative Society, Limited, has guaranteed full wages to all employés during the first six 536W weeks of sickness, and has accordingly made application to the Insurance Commissioners that they and their employés should be allowed to pay the reduced contributions provided for in such cases by the National Insurance Act; whether he is aware that the Insurance Commissioners have refused this permission in the case of certain of their employés; and whether he will issue instructions that all employés and employers who desire to avail themselves of this provision shall be allowed to do so?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe society gave notice to the Commissioners of their intention to avail themselves of the provisions of Section 47, and the notice was accepted so far as it related to employés covered by Special Orders made by the Commissioners. As regards employés not so covered, the notice was necessarily rejected, but it is open to the society, if it thinks fit, to apply to the Commissioners for a Special Order under Sub-section (7) of Section 47, applicable to all its employés.