§ Mr. CHIOZZA MONEYasked the President of the Board of Trade if he can promise at an early date the publication of an official guide to the unemployment section of the National Insurance Act, including an annotated copy of the Act itself, a copy of all the Regulations issued, and a general explanation of the provisions, with an ample index?
Mr. ROBERTSONWhile I appreciate the desirability of affording every possible assistance to employers and workpeople with a view to making them familiar with the provisions of Part II. of the National Insurance Act and of the Regulations thereunder, I feel some difficulty in issuing1740W an official guide on the lines suggested in the question. As my hon. Friend is aware, the Board of Trade have no legal authority to interpret the Act, and an official annotated edition might, I think, give rise to misunderstanding. If my hon. Friend cares to see me on the matter I shall be very happy to discuss it with him.
§ Mr. FELLasked the Secretary to the Treasury, if he can now, from the cards returned, give an estimate of the number of persons insured against unemployment under the National Insurance Act?
Mr. ROBERTSONThe number of permanent unemployment books issued to workpeople up to and including 6th November, 1912, was 2,188,154. Some further allowance should probably be made on account of emergency books issued but not yet exchanged for permanent books. It is, however, impossible to estimate this additional number with any precision.