§ Mr. SUTTONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he would state whether the London and North-Western Railway Provident Fund, the Midland Railway Friendly Society, and other railway companies' funds of a similar character will be eligible to become approved societies within the meaning of the insurance scheme; will the employés of such railway companies be compelled to pay the pre- 2381W miums asked for by the State in addition to their present premiums; will the railway companies be entitled to deduct from the wages of the employés the premiums relative to the unemployment section of the insurance scheme; will the railway trade unions be eligible to become approved societies in the unemployment section, and to collect premiums and administer benefits in accordance with the State scheme; and will such contributions by the men be in excess of that which they now pay to the trade unions?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEIt is intended that Funds such as those referred to should be enabled to become approved societies. In this as in all other cases the contribution of the existing members of an approved society and of their employers under the National Health Insurance Bill will be in substitution for all or part of their present premiums and not in addition thereto. Railway companies will only be entitled to make deductions from wages for unemployment insurance in respect of such of their workpeople as are engaged in the trades specified in the Sixth Schedule to the Bill. The great mass of railway employés are not included in that Schedule. It will be open to the railway trade unions to apply to the Board of Trade to make arrangements with them under Clauses 79 and 80 if they give unemployment benefit to their members. All compulsory contributions to the unemployment fund will be paid through the employer, and power is given to any union which has made an arrangement under Clause 79 to make a corresponding reduction in the subscription of those members who have to contribute.