asked the Minister for Social Welfare if any check is carried out to ensure that lumpers in the building trade are covering their employees for insurance.

"Lumpers" in the building trade who employ others are treated as sub-contractors. Like other employers, they are subject to regular survey by the outdoor staff of my Department and to investigations arising out of complaints made by individual employees.

Has the Parliamentary Secretary had complaints that this practice is rather widespread and that some of these lumpers are not covered yet?

I have no indication that there is any abnormal increase in this type of complaint.