Orders of the Day — Contributory Pensions Bill.

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons am ar 15 Gorffennaf 1925.

Danfonwch hysbysiad imi am ddadleuon fel hyn

Photo of Sir Douglas Hogg Sir Douglas Hogg , St Marylebone

I am not quite sure on that point, but I will make inquiries. The hon. Member said that there would be an undue preference shown for these women in the labour market because the employers would have to pay less insurance, and that there would be a tendency to employ cheap labour. The answer to that question is that the employer does pay and the widow is exempt. The employer is still liable to pay the whole contribution just the same as he does in the case of a widow of an insured person. The widow gets off her share, but the employer pays just the same, and so that danger has been safeguarded against. The hon. Member asked whether it applied to the wives of ex-service men and my reply is "no." I think those are all the points put to me. With regard to the first case put by the hon. Member, here you have a person provided with a pension not as large as one would like it to be, but it is 10s., and we do not think that it is unreasonable in all the circumstances to make them contribute a weekly sum to ensure a further pension in the case of the double event of getting sick and unemployed. She would still benefit and draw her widow's pension, but we exclude her from that class. We do not relieve the employer from any liability and we do not remove her from the category of medical benefit. I think I have answered all the questions put to me except the one which I reserved and here is the answer. If employed within the meaning of the Insurance Act, being an exempt person, he will be entitled to medical benefit.