§ MR. HERBERT SAMUEL (Yorkshire, Cleveland)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state on what date the Departmental Committee for the consideration of Amendments to the Workmen's Compensation for Accidents Acts was appointed; how many sittings it has held; whether its Report has yet been presented; and whether he still proposes to introduce a Bill on this subject this session.
§ *MR. AKERS-DOUGLASThe Committee was appointed on the 16th November, 1903. It has held thirty-seven meetings, all of which, except four, were 272 full day meetings. It has examined seventy-six witnesses. The work of the Committee has been exceedingly laborious, and in addition to the evidence taken at the meetings the Committee has obtained a large amount of information in writing from County Court Judges, Employers' and Workmen's Associations and Insurance Companies. I understand that the Report has been signed to-day, and I hope to lay it on the Table without delay; but a I stated the other day, I cannot hope to introduce a Bill on the subject this session. When hon. Members see the Report they will, I think, recognise what an extremely heavy task the consideration of any such legislation necessarily is.