§ Mr. Piratinasked the Minister of National Insurance whether, in view of the impossibility of obtaining casual labour for snow clearing because of the 4s. 11d. National Insurance deduction, he would relax the regulations as to National Insurance contributions in the case of casual labour employed for snow clearing.
§ Mr. SteeleThe main effect of relaxing the existing rules would be to relieve the employer from his share of the contribution. At the same time persons who engaged in snow clearing would, if not otherwise employed in a particular week, in general become liable for a contribution as non-employed persons, which amounts to 4s. 8d. or with Industrial Injuries contributions 5s.—rather more than the employee's share of the combined contribution in Class 1. My right hon. Friend therefore sees no reason for departing from the advice given by the National Insurance Advisory Committee in their report on the National Insurance 101W Classification Regulations that a Class 1 contribution should be payable wherever at least four hours' work in any contribution week is done on snow clearance.