§ 64. Mr. G TERRELLasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions the exact conditions under which he holds a fund from which compassionate grants can be made to persons who have sustained injury while engaged on munition work; whether he is in any way restricted from making grants to persons who were engaged by private firms in the manufacture of munitions; whether in the case of Miss G. George, of Chippenham, he has taken into consideration that at the time of the accident she was only 20 years of age; that she only received £30 compensation for an injury to her eye; that two years subsequently the eye had to be removed; and that now she is threatened with total blindness; and whether this is a case requiring the most sympathetic treatment.
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY OF MUNITIONS (Mr. Hope)A limited fund is at the disposal of the Department from which, in cases of distress, small grants may be made to direct employees of the Department discharged in circumstances rendering them ineligible for Awards under the Superannuation Act; or, in case of death in the service, to their dependants. No fund is at the disposal of the Department from which grants may be made to employees of private firms. I understand that a lump sum of £30 was accepted on behalf of Miss George in full settlement of her claim against her employers in respect of the injury; and that this amount was paid to her "next friend" through the County Court in the manner prescribed by the Workmen's Compensation Acts.
§ Mr. TERRELLHas the hon. Gentleman considered whether this was reasonable compensation to be paid, and is there not some other fund from which in so 30 extremely hard case such as this some other compensation can be paid?
Mr. HOPEThis was a question between Miss George and her employers, who were a private firm, and I am advised that we have no fund from which we can make a grant.