asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the amount of the funds now lying to the credit of the Unemployment Insurance (Intermittent Employment) Act, 1939, account; the total receipts by way of contributions and the payments made in respect of benefits in each of the years since the commencement of the Act; and whether he is prepared to consider increasing the rates of benefit payable under the Act without increasing the rates of contribution.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unemployment Insurance Rates.
Particulars of the receipts into and payments out of the Supplementary Unemployment Fund for the years ended 31st March, 1944 and 1945, and for the period 1st April, 1945, to 31st December, 1945, are being circulated with the Official Report. The figures are subject to further examination.
The Deputy is, no doubt, aware that the rates of contribution payable under the Acts were substantially reduced as from October 8th, 1945. It is yet too soon to estimate the effect of this reduction on the finances of the Supplementary Unemployment Fund.
The present rates of supplementary benefit were fixed after consultation with representatives of both sides in the building trade. In my view, it is not desirable to consider an alteration of these rates of benefit until experience is available of the operation of the scheme under more normal circumstances. The position will then be discussed with the workers' and employers' organisations concerned.
Following are the particulars:—
INSURANCE (INTERMITTENT UNEMPLOYMENT) ACT, 1942.
Account of Receipts into and Payments out of the Supplementary Unemployment Fund.
PERIOD 5TH APRIL, 1943, TO 31ST MARCH, 1944.
(The figures are subject to audit.)
|
RECEIPTS. |
PAYMENTS. |
||||||
|
£ |
s. |
d. |
£ |
s. |
d. |
||
|
Contributions by Employers and Workpeople |
30,005 |
8 |
0 |
Reimbursement to Employers of Supplementary Benefit paid to Workpeople |
3,254 |
10 |
9 |
|
Refunds to Employers and Workpeople of contributions paid in error |
283 |
6 |
8 |
||||
|
Balance at 31st March, 1944 |
26,467 |
10 |
7 |
||||
|
30,005 |
8 |
0 |
30,005 |
8 |
0 |
PERIOD 1ST APRIL, 1944, TO 31ST MARCH, 1945.
(The figures are subject to audit.)
|
RECEIPTS. |
PAYMENTS. |
||||||
|
£ |
s. |
d. |
£ |
s. |
d. |
||
|
Balance at 1st April, 1944 |
26,467 |
10 |
7 |
Reimbursements to Employers of Supplementary Benefit paid to Workpeople |
12,922 |
16 |
10 |
|
Contributions by Employers and Workpeople |
37,756 |
0 |
0 |
||||
|
Amounts recovered in respect of overpayments |
4 |
7 |
0 |
Refunds to Employers and Workpeople of contributions paid in error |
434 |
12 |
5 |
|
Income from Investments |
551 |
14 |
11 |
||||
|
Recoverable overpayments |
17 |
16 |
8 |
||||
|
Balance at 31st March, 1945 |
51,404 |
6 |
7 |
||||
|
64,779 |
12 |
6 |
64,779 |
12 |
6 |
PERIOD 1ST APRIL, 1945, TO 31ST DECEMBER, 1945.
(The figures are subject to further examination and audit.)
|
RECEIPTS. |
PAYMENTS. |
||||||
|
£ |
s. |
d. |
£ |
s. |
d. |
||
|
Balance at 1st April, 1945 |
51,404 |
6 |
7 |
Reimbursements to Employers of Supplementary Benefit paid to Workpeople |
5,336 |
7 |
1 |
|
Contributions by Employers and Workpeople |
26,703 |
19 |
5 |
||||
|
Amount recovered in respect of overpayment |
21 |
5 |
2 |
Refunds to Employers and Workpeople of contributions paid in error |
230 |
3 |
0 |
|
Balance at 31st December, 1945 |
72,563 |
1 |
1 |
||||
|
78,129 |
11 |
2 |
78,129 |
11 |
2 |