MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Umpire, under the provisions of the National Insurance Act, has recently, on works near Fort William, given his decision that the formation of a new county road, or of such work on roads as is of the nature of capital expenditure, comes under Part II. of the Act; whether he is aware that an ordinary surface-man engaged even for a 1026W week in assisting to build bridges, although for the whole of the rest of his life he may work as a surface-man, has been declared to come under Part II. of the Act; and will he say what is the amount of unemployment benefit that can be obtained for being mulcted of one week's contribution under Part II.?
Mr. BUXTONThough I am not able on the information given to trace the specific decision referred to, I have no reason to doubt that it is accurately described in the question, as such a decision would be in accordance with the two decisions, of which I am sending the Noble Lord copies. I would point out, however, that by virtue of Section 97 of the Act, a workman in a rural district whose substantial occupation is that of a surfaceman engaged in the ordinary maintenance of country roads, and who is merely employed for an isolated week in connection with the construction of a new bridge in the same district, would not be compulsorily insurable. This appears to cover the case to which the Noble Lord refers.