§ 45. Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that insurance companies refuse to insure workmen in regard to compensation under the provisions of the Employers' Liability and Workmen's Compensation Acts in the case of those who are disabled by loss of limb; whether such disability is preventing our disabled soldiers from getting work; and, if so, whether the Government will be prepared to consider a proposal for exempting those men from the provisions of the Acts, or, in the alternative, of paying the extra premium that might be involved in getting them insured?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir John SimonThe matter to which it relates has been made the subject of special inquiry by the Disabled Sailors and Soldiers Committee, and the hon. Member will see in paragraphs 28 and 29 of their Report which was recently presented to Parliament that they found no reason to apprehend that 1491 employers may be forced to refuse employment to partially disabled men owing to difficulty in insuring against the liability imposed by the Workmen's Compensation Act. There seems to be no need, therefore, for His Majesty's Government to take any special steps in this matter.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that, in spite of any report of any Committee, difficulties are being raised at the present time?
§ Sir J. SIMONThe hon. Gentleman may not have seen the terms of the Committee's report. I find they say that as far as the insurance companies included in the Accident Offices Association are concerned the uniform premium ordinarily charged by the companies included all classes of employés, whether able-bodied or partly disabled.