§ MR. W. T. WILSON (Lancashire, Westhoughton)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether a new or revised scheme of compensation to workmen who may be injured while employed in Government establishments has been submitted to the Chief Registrar of 648 Friendly Societies for approval; and, if so, was the scheme submitted to the employees for their consideration; and were they given a reasonable time to decide whether they should accept or reject the scheme.
§ *MR. J. A. PEASEYes, Sir, a revised scheme has been submitted to the Chief Registrar and approved by him. It has since been submitted to the employees for consideration and for their acceptance if they think fit. The Treasury requested the Departments to allow the workmen a week's interval, where possible, before deciding as to the acceptance of the scheme.
§ MR. W. T. WILSONasked if in some of the dockyards the papers were called in in less than a week?
§ *MR. J. A. PEASEsaid that the Treasury understood that the workmen desired a week's notice, and had consequently recommended that where possible such notice should be given. The Treasury had no knowledge as to whether in some cases less than a week's notice had been given, and any question on the subject should be addressed to the Minister representing the Department concerned.
§ MR. JENKINS (Chatham)Why have the Government initiated a scheme to enable Government employees to contract out of an Act passed unanimously by this House?
§ *MR. J. A. PEASEasked for notice.