Mr. GUESTasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the confusion arising in the Poor Law service as a result of the various interpretations of the Unemployment Insurance Act; that some boards of guardians have been given to understand that their statutory officials are excepted from the provisions of the Act; that other boards have been informed that they are not in a position to certify that none of their employ£s should lose office on grounds other than misconduct; that the employés of some boards are being automatically excepted whilst other boards are being compelled to make application in respect of their officials; that it has been ruled that whilst these applications are pending the officials must pay their contributions under the Act; and that, as a result, the employés of the Portsmouth board of guardians were recently and without notice stopped 14 weeks' contributions from a single week's wages; and whether he will take steps to remove the confusion at present prevailing on this matter.
§ Sir M. BARLOWI have been asked to reply. I am aware that considerable difficulty has been caused owing to the strict interpretation which, after taking the advice of the Law Officers, the Department have been bound to place upon the provisions of Part II (d) of the First Schedule to the Unemployment Insurance Act, with regard to the grant of certificates of exception. The Second Schedule of the Unemployment Insurance Bill now before the House contains provisions which will, I hope, remove this difficulty.