§ 102. Mr. W. CARTERasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the date when he will bring in a Bill to amend the Workmen's Compensation Act, in accordance with the recommendation of the Departmental Committee?
§ Sir J. BAIRDI would refer the hon. Member to the replies given to questions by the hon. Baronet the Member for North Portsmouth and the hon. Member for the Normanton Division on the 2nd and 14th June respectively.
§ Mr. LAWSONAre we to understand that the Government is going to do nothing to remedy this injustice from which many people are suffering under the Workmen's Compensation Act, especially in view of their pledges?
§ Mr. CARTERIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the Government made a promise to bring in a Bill, and was responsible for the establishment of a Committee that sat several months, and that up to the present nothing has been done; and are we to understand that this is another promise of the Government that is going to be scrapped?
§ Sir J. BAIRDIt is quite obvious that in the present state of industrial conditions it would be extremely difficult to get agreement on a controversial point like this.
§ Mr. LAWSONIs not the hon. Member aware that there was practical agreement on this question, and that the Government gave a pledge to bring in a Bill on the basis of that agreement?
§ Sir J. BAIRDI am afraid it could not be taken to be a general agreement.
§ Mr. HARTSHORNIs it not a fact that the mineowners and the miners entered into an agreement on certain points in anticipation of a Bill, and though such agreement was reached nothing has been done?
§ Sir J. BAIRDThere was not sufficient general agreement.
§ Sir B. FALLEWas there any money compensation in the Bill?