§ MR. BOTTOMLEY (Hackney, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to a recent case under the Workmen's Compensation Act, in which the judge of the Southwark County Court reduced an allowance to an injured workman of 15s. per week to 1d., in order to induce him to undergo a surgical operation, which his employers stated would, in their opinion, have the effect of remedying his injuries; and, if so, whether he will consider the desirableness of introducing in the Bill now before Parliament such provision as will relieve an injured workman from the necessity of incurring the risk of further injuries by undergoing, at the dictation of his employers, surgical operations to which he objects.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. GLADSTONE,) Leeds, W.I am informed by the deputy judge by whom this case was decided that he reduced the allowance to the workman, not for the reason suggested by the hon. Member, but because he was satisfied on the evidence that the workman was at the time quite well and able to work. The Act does not empower an employer to require a workman to undergo any surgical operation, and I see no, reason, therefore, to introduce any Amendment such as the hon. Member indicates.
§ MR. BOTTOMLEYI beg to give notice I will ask the Prime Minister if he will grant an early day to consider the conduct of this extraordinary Judge.