Letters and Papers Concerning the Trans-Persian Railway and Other Railways in Persia [‎133v] (266/442)

1893
Oral Answers.
1894
HOUSE OF
Income Limit (Medical Benefit).
62. Sir PHILIP MAGNUS asked what
steps the Government propose to take to
exclude those persons possessing an in
come exceeding £160 a year from free
medical treatment who, under the
National Insurance Act, are entitled to
that benefit, having regard to the state
ment of the Commissioners in their letter
of 26th June that the Government recog
nise that this is a special case for con
sideration ?
Mr. MASTERMAN: The Government
have undertaken to consider any sugges
tions put before them in reference to this
matter. No such suggestions have as yet
been made. It -would therefore be pre
mature to make any statement.
Sir P. MAGNUS: Have the Commis
sioners power to make the alteration or
will it be necessary to amend the Act l
Mr. MASTERMAN : I would like notice
of that question.
Unemployment (Appeals).
63. Mr. WORTHINGTON-EVANS asked
whether there is any appeal from the de
cision of the Insurance Commissioners
either certifying or refusing to certify that
the terms of employment of those em
ployed under any local authority are such
as to entitle the persons employed to ex
ception from compulsory insurance under
Part II. of the First Schedule of the
National Insurance Act?
Mr. MASTERMAN: The answer is in
the negative.
Barge Owners.
64. Mr. WORTHINGTON - EVANS
asked whether, in the case of a cargo barge
where the barge owner, the captain, and
the mate co-operate on the terms that the
barge owner takes one-half of the profits
and that the captain takes one-half, out of
which he remunerates his mate by giving
him one-third of his one-half, the mate is
deemed to be an employed person; and,
if so, by whom are his contributions to be
paid ?
Mr. MASTERMAN: In the case sug
gested in the question the mate will be
liable to be insured, and it would appear
on the facts as stated by the hon. Member
that the owner of the barge will be liable
for the contributions. It would, however,
be impossible to give an answer with any
certainty except upon a fuller statement
of the facts than is possible -within the
COMMONS Oral Answers.
limits of a Parliamentary question, but it
is open to barge owners or masters to
obtain the formal decision of the Commis
sioners by means of an application under
Section 66 of the Act.
Mr. WORTHINGTON-EVANS: Would
the right hon. Gentleman ask the Commis
sioners to reply to a letter which was sent
to them over a month ago putting these
facts ?
Mr. MASTERMAN : I wull have inquiry
made, or if the hon. Member will communi
cate to me privately the full particulars of
the case I will see that he will get a reply.
Mr. W. THORNE: Will the right hon.
Gentleman consider the advisability of
having all the questions and answers
printed in regard to the Insurance Act ?
Mr. MASTERMAN : I should have no ob
jection myself.
Mr. W. THORNE : Will you ask the Gov
ernment to do so ?
Governesses.
66. Mr. CHARLES BATHURST asked
what advice is being given by the Insur
ance Commissioners, in the absence of the
formation of any special society for
governesses, as to the best mode of health
insurance for this class of employed
persons ?
Mr. MASTERMAN : The Commissioners
are careful not to give advice recommend
ing any particular approved society for
any particular insured persons. I have no
doubt that any of the approved societies
which take women Avould accept gover
nesses as members, and I understand that
special societies are being formed for per
sons engaged in the teaching profession.
Public Meetings (Police Protection).
77. Mr. NEWMAN asked the Home
Secretary whether he was aw^are that a
number of meetings to give expression to
the public feeling of satisfaction at the
coming into operation of the National
Insurance Act had been arranged for
Saturday, the 13th instant; and whether,
having in view the injuries that v r ere re
ceived by a number of the audience who
disagreed with the principal speaker at a
meeting dealing with the Insurance Act
at Woodford on the 29th ultimo, he would,
where requested within the Metropolitan
area, arrange for an adequate force of
police to be present to prevent rioting or
injury to any of the public present?