§ Sir F. SANDERSONasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that by a ruling of the High Court it has been decided that hospital porters shall be classed as domestics and are, therefore, not insurable under the Unemployment Insurance Acts; and whether, in view of the hardship to these men in the event of their becoming unemployed, he will, when amending the Acts, make provision for their being classed as insurable persons?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONI am aware of the judgment referred to. The Royal Commission on Unemployment Insurance recommended that this class of workers should be brought within the scope of the
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Insured Persons recorded as Unemployed in Great Britain. Industry Group. 24th August, 1931. 22nd February, 1932. 20th February, 1933. Fishing 4,569 7,362 7,794 Mining: Stone Quarrying and Mining 6,808 10,948 15,804 Slate Quarrying and Mining 3,268 1,347 2,026 Mining and Quarrying not separately specified 3,607 3,863 3,760 Clay, Sand, Gravel and Chalk Pits 3,528 4,615 4,609 Non Metalliferous Mining Products: Coke Ovens and By-Product Works 4,181 3,586 3,957 Artificial Stone and Concrete 4,291 5,619 6,366 Cement, Limekilns and Whiting 2,978 4,354 4,503 Brick, Tile, Pipe, etc., making 14,401 19,348 22,102 Pottery, Earthenware, etc. 28,413 25,658 25,041 Glass Trades: Glass (excluding Bottles and Scientific Glass) 7,219 5,646 5,344 Glass Bottles 5,244 4,908 4,593 Chemicals, etc.: Chemicals 18,425 17,577 15,845 Explosives 2,784 1,953 1,644 Paint, Varnish, Red and White Leads 2,215 2,256 2,231 Oil, Glue, Soap, Ink, Matches, etc. 9,777 9,827 9,981 Metal Manufacture Pig Iron (Blast Furnaces) 8,732 8,194 7,639 Steel Melting and Iron Paddling, Iron and Steel Boiling and Forging. 81,717 79,931 73,778 Brass, Copp-r, Zinc, Tin, Lead, etc. 10,620 9,736 8,898 Tin Plates 11,630 8,413 10,811 Iron and Steel Tubes 12,459 13,744 11,860 Wire, Wire Netting, Wire Ropes 7,329 5,797 5,684 Unemployment Insurance Acts, and this recommendation is at present under consideration.