§ 10. Mr. SAKLATVALAasked the Under-Secretary of State for India if he is in a position to state the circumstances under which the mining disaster occurred in India last week, the number of lives lost, and the numbers of seriously injured and slightly injured persons; what compensation is due by law in each case; and, if none is legally due to injured persons or to the families of the deceased, what compensation have the employers decided to award in each case?
§ Earl WINTERTONThe hon. Member no doubt refers to a mining accident in the Central Provinces, particulars of which appeared a few days ago in the Press. My Noble Friend has no further information, but will make inquiries. As the Workmen's Compensation Act recently passed by the Indian Legislature will not come into force until 1st July, 1924, payment of compensation in such cases could only be enforced by civil suit.