Mr Thomas Steele: The liability of these ex-Service men to pay contributions will depend upon regulations now before the National Insurance Advisory Committee in draft. As regards benefits, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on this subject to the hon. Member for Spen Valley (Mr. Sharp) on 23rd April, a copy of which I am sending him.
Mr Thomas Steele: This is a point which is before the National Insurance Advisory Committee, and my right hon. Friend is awaiting its report.
Mr Thomas Steele: During the period 1st January, 1947, to 30th April, 1948, the number of such disqualifications in the Merseyside group of eleven employment exchanges was 580.
Mr Thomas Steele: I appreciate my hon. Friend's point. Of course, he is now discussing whether the offer of employment is right or not, The point is that in these cases that decision must be taken by the statutory authority.
Mr Thomas Steele: A voluntary contributor under the National Health Insurance Act who has allowed his insurance to lapse through failure to pay contributions will be brought into the new scheme of insurance on 5th July next on the same terms and conditions as other persons not insured under the old scheme immediately before that date.
Mr Thomas Steele: So far as the voluntary contributors are concerned, it is true that when they cease payment of contributions it does not necessarily follow that insurance rights cease at that time; they may go on for two years. Anyone who has any deficiency in the current contribution record will have an opportunity to make good that deficiency, but any voluntary contributor who has allowed his insurance...
Mr Thomas Steele: Seventy-three persons employed in Stoke-on-Trent were certified by the Silicosis Medical Board in 1947 to be suffering from silicosis or pneumoconiosis, or from one of these diseases associated with tuberculosis; of these 33 were engaged in the pottery industry and 4o in coal-mining.
Mr Thomas Steele: That, of course, is another question.
Mr Thomas Steele: Yes, Sir. A "Family Guide to the National Insurance Scheme" will be distributed to all householders in Great Britain between 24th May and 12th June. A Welsh "Guide" will also be available on request at post offices, local National Insurance offices and Employment Exchanges in Wales as from 24th May. I am arranging for copies of the "Guide" to be made available to Members in the Library of the...
Mr Thomas Steele: The dates we have selected for circulation are "as speedily as possible."
Mr Thomas Steele: The "Family Guide" will be made available to hon. Members just as quickly as we can make it, but, on the other hand, we have all sorts of leaflets dealing with the special points connected with the scheme, directed to special problems, and these are already being made available in the Library for hon. Members, whenever they are printed.
Mr Thomas Steele: Discussions on this subject are now proceeding with the Eire Government.
Mr Thomas Steele: That is a different matter from the question of reciprocity.
Mr Thomas Steele: I beg to move, "That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment." We have emphasised on more than one occasion that we should make full use of people with local knowledge and experience. The Amendment is designed for this purpose.
Mr Thomas Steele: I beg to move, "That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment." This Amendment is designed to overcome a difficulty incidental to the general principle of the Clause that assistance is not to be granted to a person in respect of any period during which he is in full-time work. The difficulty arises from the general presumption that assistance is granted in advance, whereas...
Mr Thomas Steele: That is the kind of situation this Amendment is designed to meet.
Mr Thomas Steele: I beg to move, "That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment." This Amendment was decided upon by the Government in consultation with the London County Council. The Clause, as amended, makes it possible to deal with persons who refuse to comply with the provisions of the regulation which requires them to assist with the domestic work of the institution.
Mr Thomas Steele: I beg to move, "That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment." This Clause as it stood made it possible for a person who infringes the regulations to be fined £10 or sent to prison for not more than a month, or both. The effect of the Amendment makes it impossible to impose both.
Mr Thomas Steele: I beg to move, "That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment." This follows an Amendment which I have already moved. It amends Subsection (2) of Clause 18 in the same way as we have already amended Subsection (1).
Mr Thomas Steele: I beg to move, "That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment." The Schedule here provides that chairmen of tribunals and panels of workpeople shall continue in office for the purpose of the new tribunals until the Minister makes other nominations. The Amendment, and one which follows in similar terms to line 16, are designed to secure that the remaining members of the...
