§ Mr. HENDERSON STEWARTasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that, in order to comply with the regulations of his Department for the purpose of claiming rebates on long hirings under the Unemployment Insurance (Agriculture) Act, Scottish farmers and farm workers arc being asked to break the contracts made by them on 28th November, 1935 for one year's hiring; what authority exists for such a request; and if, in the interests of good relations between farmers and their men, he will see that this policy is discontinued?
§ Mr. E. BROWNI am not aware that farmers and farm workers are asked by officials of the Ministry of Labour to break contracts made by them. The point to which my hon. Friend refers arises, I understand, from the requirement made 817W by the Unemployment Insurance (Agriculture) Act, 1936, in connection with refunds of contributions, that a contract of long hiring should be registered within 28 days of the first day of employment under the contract. A contract for one year's hiring from the 28th November, 1935, clearly could not be so registered and consequently no refund would be payable in respect of it. The Department was asked by farmers whether if the parties to such a contract chose to replace it by a fresh contract of long hiring as denned in the Act, the new contract could be registered and a refund claimed. The Department replied that this course would be possible and the officials of the Ministry of Labour have been instructed so to inform persons who make inquiries on the subject or to whom the information might be of interest.