§ Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the manner in which the National Insurance Act is working among the outworkers of Nottingham, and also in view of the improbability that any considerable number of them will ever derive any benefits from the Act, the Commissioners, under Clause 7 of the National Insurance Act (1911) Amendment Bill, will be empowered to frame a scheme more suitable to the needs of the Nottingham outworkers, whose earnings are small and uncertain?
Mr. MASTER MANAny provision with regard to benefits would be outside the scope of Clause 7. That Clause deals with rates of contribution, and there would be no advantage in extending its application to outworkers in view of the 891W provision already made in Regulations under paragraph 10 of the Third Schedule to the Act. I would suggest, however, that the difficulties which the Noble Lord has in view will be partly met by Clause 3 of the Bill, which contains special provisions applicable to low-wage earners.