§ Mr. Tinkerasked the Minister of Labour the number who are now insured under the unemployment scheme; what is the individual contribution each week for the workman, employer and State, respectively; and what is the yearly income for 1939, 1940 and 1941?
§ Mr. BevinFigures regarding the estimated numbers insured against unemployment are not available for publication.
The following table sets out the amount of the unemployment insurance contributions now payable weekly by each of the three parties, viz., the employer, the employed person and the Exchequer:— 1422W
General Scheme. Agricultural Scheme. d. d. Men—aged 21 years and over* 10 3½ Women—aged 21 years and over* 9 3 Young Men—aged 18 to 20 years inclusive 9 3 Young Women—aged 18 to 20 years inclusive 8 2½ Boys—aged 16 and 17 years 5 2 Girls—aged 16 and 17 years 4½ 1½ Boys—aged 14 and 15 years 2 1½ Girls—aged 14 and 15 years 2 1 * In the case of men aged 65 years and over and women aged 60 and over, a contribution is not payable by the employed person and the Exchequer contribution is half the rates shown above. The net contribution income of the Unemployment Fund for the three calendar years 1939, 1940 and 1941 was:—
Year. General Account. Agricultural Account. £ £ 1939 65,946,472 1,574,407 1940 67,052,943 1,224,070 1941 75,603,515 1,441,591 The rates of contribution were raised as from 5th August 1940, by the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1940, which also brought into insurance non-manual workers whose rate of remuneration exceeds £250 a year and does not exceed £420 a year.