§ Mr. W. THORNEasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the confusion that exists in the entertainment industry with regard to the application of the Unemployment Insurance Acts; whether he is aware that many men who are engaged on Monday mornings and sometimes also on Monday afternoons unloading scenery, etc., and fixing it up in theatres and music halls have recently been declared to be uninsurable if they are engaged as scene-shifters in the evenings; whether this decision was given with his knowledge and approval; how this decision is to 433W be reconciled with paragraph 11 of Memorandum 282/X; why limelight operators, who come within the category of part-time employés, and who usually work less hours than any other section in the industry, have been declared to be insurable; whether any consideration has been given to the representations made with respect to the present position and the different interpretations given at various Exchanges; and, if so, will he state the result?
§ Mr. B. SMITHasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the confusion that exists in the entertainment industry with regard to the application of the Health Insurance Acts, and that many men who are engaged on Monday mornings and sometimes also on Monday afternoons unloading scenery, etc., and fixing it up in theatres and music halls, have recently been declared to be uninsurable if they are engaged as scene shifters in the evenings; whether this decision was given with his knowledge and approval, in view of paragraph 11 of Memorandum 282/X; why limelight operators, who come within the category of part-time employés and who usually work less hours than any other section in the industry, have been declared to be insurable; whether any consideration has been given to the representations made at the conference held with the Department in June last; and, if so, will he state the result?
§ Sir K. WOODI have been asked to reply. My right hon. Friend has no reason to suppose that the requirements of the Acts are not generally understood in the industry. Men engaged on Mondays as described in the question are usually non-insurable under an Order referring to subsidiary employments, and my right hon. Friend has so decided in a particular case under Section 89 of the Health Insurance Act, with due regard to the Memorandum referred to. The position was fully explained to representatives of employers and employés at a conference in June last, and steps have subsequently been taken to secure uniformity of practice. Limelight operators are also non-insurable if they fall within the category of part-time stage hands.