§ MR. LEWIS (Flint Boroughs)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether workmen in the employ of the Government will have a choice between the proposed alternative Government-scheme to the Workmen's Compensation Act and the provisions of the Act itself; and whether any difference will be made in regard to conditions of employment or otherwise between workmen who accept the alternative scheme and those who prefer not to contract out of the Act, or whether their choice will be perfectly free?
§ MR. HANBURYThe Act provides that the employer may contract with any workman to substitute an approved alternative scheme for the provisions of the-Act. The Government, as other employers, may therefore refuse to give any workman a choice between two schemes—but, if such choice is given, as it no 917 doubt will be if the alternative Government scheme is approved, the choice will be free, and the conditions of employment will be the same in all other respects whichever scheme the workman may prefer.