Major Morrisonasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the importance to food production this summer and the anxiety on the subject, he will issue a statement to clarify the position of the part-time land worker as regards National Health Insurance and Unemployment Insurance, and that of the land worker from holiday camps under the Workmen's Compensation Act?
Mr. HudsonPart-time workers in agriculture are normally insurable unless they are engaged in one of the excepted employments. Orders have however been made excluding from the statutory insurance schemes persons working temporarily on the land under certain official schemes, including voluntary land clubs approved by the Minister of Agriculture. The Minister of Labour has also excluded from liability to make contribution under the Unemployment Scheme part-time workers whose employment in the Minister's opinion ordinarily involves not more than 30 hours' service weekly being employment which began on or after 3rd September, 1939, and the services rendered being such as in the Minister's opinion are not ordinarily performed, or would not but for the circumstances arising out of the war ordinarily be performed, by persons rendering not more than 30 hours' service weekly. With regard to the second part of the Question, most workers from holiday56W camps receive wages direct from their employer and there is a contract of service between them. The workers are therefore entitled to benefit under the provisions of the Workmen's Compensation Acts.