§ Mr. NORMAN CRAIGasked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state what is the position, under the National Insurance Act, of an employer who, by contract with an employé and as part of the consideration for such employment, contracts to provide medical attendance during sickness without deduction from wages and to free benefits at least equal to those provided by the Act, but whose employé is not an employé in respect of whom, under the Act, exemption can be claimed; whether the employer is bound to make the contribution provided by the Act, and whether he is also bound to fulfil the stipulations of his contract as regards medical attendance and benefits; and whether the employé is bound to submit to the deduction from his wages provided by the Act without any increase in his wages during the currency of his contract of employment?
§ Mr. MASTERMANApart from the special provisions in regard to certificates of exception, which are confined to employment under the Crown, or any public authority, or under a statutory company, the Act provides for the special case in which an employé is entitled to receive from his employer benefits corresponding to those under the Act. Where the employer has bound himself to pay full remuneration during sickness a reduction in the rate of contribution amounting to 2d. a week in the case of men, and 1½d. in the case of women may be made subject to the conditions laid down in Section 47. There is no provision in the Act enabling either employer or employé, except by mutual agreement, to vary the terms of any existing contract of employment.