Letters and Papers Concerning the Trans-Persian Railway and Other Railways in Persia [‎132v] (264/442)

1889
Oral Answers.
HOUSE OF COMMONS Oral Answers.
1890
[Mr. J. H. Thomas.]
pay sixpence, the employers’ and em
ployes’ contribution, they will be dis
missed 1
Mr. MASTERMAN: That has nothing
to do with the question.
HON. MEMBERS: Who has done it?
An HON. MEMBER: It has been done.
Birth Certificates.
54. Mr. SNOWDEN asked the Secretary
to the Treasury if he is aware that the
superintendent-registrars are making a
charge of Is. 6d. for copies of birth certifi
cates supplied to applicants who require
them for the purposes of entering an ap
proved society under the National Insur
ance Act, and who have made the applica
tion on the prescribed form, Is. of this
sum being charged for searching the
register where the applicant is unable to
give the exact date of birth; and whether
such a charge is authorised by the Com
missioners or the Local Government
Board ?
Mr. MASTERMAN: Superintendent-
registrars are not entitled to charge a
search fee of Is., and are so informed in
their instructions. I have no information
of such search fees being charged, but if
my hon. Friend will let me know if he has
such information in his possession, I will
gladly communicate with the Registrar-
General on the subject.
Liability During Holidays.
55. Mr. KELLAWAY asked if an em
ployer who pays his employes full wages
during their holidays will be liable for the
employer’s Health Insurance contribution
during the time of the holidays?
Mr. MASTERMAN : The answer is in
the affirmative.
Cork Harbour Board (Employes).
56. Mr. MAURICE HEALY asked
whether the Cork Harbour Board have
made application to the Irish National
Health Insurance Commissioners for a
certificate that the terms of their employ
ment are such as to secure provision in
respect of sickness and disablement not
less favourable than the corresponding
benefits conferred by Part I. of the
National Insurance Act, with a view to
having their employes exempted from the
Act; whether this application has been re
fused, and, if so, whether the Financial
Secretary to the Treasury can state the
grounds of such refusal; whether he is
aware that under the Harbour Board
scheme the employes pay nothing, whereas
under the Act they must pay 3d. per week ;
that under the Harbour Board scheme em
ployes receive half-pay during sickness,
amounting in some cases to 25s. per week,
whereas under the Act the maximum sick
ness benefit is 10s. a week, and that under
the Harbour Board scheme sickness benefit
covers the first four days, whereas under
the Act this is not so; whether the em
ployes of the Harbour Board unanimously
desire to be exempted; and whether, as
the benefits under the Harbour Board
scheme are from 50 to 100 per cent, better
than those of the Act, some arrangement
can be made whereby the employes will not
be deprived of the substantial advantages
which the Harbour Board scheme confers
upon them ?
Mr. MASTERMAN : The Cork Harbour
Board have been in communication with
the Irish Commissioners, with a view to
their employes being excepted from the
compulsory insurance under paragraph (b)
of Part II. of the First Schedule to the In
surance Act. That paragraph requires as
a condition of such exception that the pro
vision made not only as regards temporary
sickness but also permanent breakdown
shall be, in the opinion of the Commis
sioners, not less favourable on the whole
than the provision made by the sickness
and disablement benefits of the Act. The
Irish Commissioners have explained what
terms they will regard as satisfying this
condition. The Cork Harbour Board, how
ever, have definitely stated in their
letter of 24th June that none of their em
ployes of any grade are guaranteed either
security of tenure or a right to a pension.
They are all liable to dismissal at the dis
cretion of the Board, and the pensions are
optional. These conditions of employment
do not appear to the Irish Insurance Com
missioners to secure the necessary provi
sion for sickness and disablement benefits
required by the Act. I understand, how
ever, that further negotiations are proceed
ing between the Harbour Board and the
Commissioners, and I will gladly communi
cate the result to the hon. and learned
Gentleman.
Apprentices.
_ 57. Mr. KELLAWAY asked if appren
tices and other employes who are under
the age of twenty-one and whose wages
are less than Is. 6d. a day are liable to the