§ 19. Mr. FALLEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if the case of Mr. Hawkins, a Government employé, Portsmouth Gunwharf, who was certified as suffering from lead poisoning by the factory inspector, and whose diagnosis was not upheld by the medical referee, will be reopened and reconsidered; if Mr. Hawkins will receive compensation, seeing that there is now no doubt as to the cause of his ill-health; and whether the registrar had the right to send Mr. Hawkins before a non-specialist doctor, however able?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Mr. Tennant)The procedure prescribed by the Workmen's Compensation Act has been followed, and Mr. Hawkins has been declared not to be suffering from any disease entitling him to compensation under that Act. The Secretary of State for War has no power to reopen consideration of the case. As regards the last part of the question, the registrar has to act in accordance with the law, and it is not for the Secretary of State for War to express any opinion on the 2047 matter. I may add that Mr. Hawkins has received a gratuity on discharge under the provisions of the Superannuation Act, 1887.