§ MR. ALBERT STANLEY (Staffordshire, N.W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the schemes certified in certain collieries in the Cannock Chase district contracting the workmen out of the provisions of the Workmen's Compensation Act; whether he proposes to take 860 any steps to ascertain whether these schemes furnish scales of benefit as favourable to the workmen as the provisions of the Act; is he also aware that in one case at least they have been made a condition of employment; and will he take such steps as will afford every person so desiring full liberty to withdraw from these schemes without interference from his employer.
§ MR. GLADSTONEI have communicated with the Registrar of Friendly Societies, who informs me that four schemes have been re-certified under Section 15 of the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1906, for employers in the Cannock Chase district; that in every case he, as Chief Registrar, has satisfied himself that the schemes provide benefits which are actuarially as favourable to the workmen as the provisions of the Act; that in no scheme has any clause making membership a condition of employment been inserted; and that every scheme contains a clause enabling any member to withdraw from the scheme as provided by the Act. As my hon. friend is aware, the actual administration of the provisions of the Act with regard to contracting-out schemes rests with the Registrar, and not with the Home Secretary. If it is true, however, as alleged in the letters my hon. friend has kindly submitted to me, that unfair pressure is being brought to bear on men by making membership of the scheme a condition of employment, that is clearly contrary to the intentions of Parliament, and I am bringing the letters to the notice of the Registrar.