HC Deb 18 July 1924 vol 176 cc832-4

Amendments made:

In page 8, line 9, leave out the word "representatives", and insert instead thereof the word "representative."

In page 8, line 20, leave out the words "by the insured contributor."

In page 8, line 23, leave out Subsection (3).

In page 9, line 40, leave out the words "commencement of this Act," and insert instead thereof the words "date upon which this section comes into operation."—[Mr. Show.]

Amendment proposed:

In page 10, line 6, at the end, insert (7) If in any case where there is a failure to make any such application as is mentioned in this Section within the period of twelve months after the date on which this Section comes into operation it is shown to the satisfaction of the Minister that there was good cause for the failure, the Minister may allow the application to be made at any time within two years after the expiration of the said period."—[Mr. Shaw.]

Mr. T. THOMSON

I beg to move as an Amendment to the proposed Amendment, in line 5, to leave out the words "within two years."

This Amendment has been put down by the Minister in response to an appeal made to him that the case of the refund men of 50 years of age should not be excluded because they failed to make their application in time. The Minister met the point by making the period two years, and now I want him to make a further extension, because many of us know that in the last two years there has been a large number of claims ruled out on the ground of disability in regard to reparations and civil liabilities because the claims have not been put in within the specified time. There is a statutory right to make these claims, and simply because the people did not know they were entitled to claim they ought not to be precluded by any time limit. For these reasons I ask the right hon. Gentleman to leave out the period of two years in order to allow these people to get what is their undoubted right.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

I beg to second the Amendment to the proposed Amendment.

Mr. SHAW

I think it is desirable that there should be a longer period, and I am willing to make it four years, instead of two.

Mr. THOMSON

In view of what the Minister has said, I ask leave to withdraw my Amendment.

Amendment to proposed Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Amendment made to proposed Amendment: In line 5, leave out the word "two", and insert instead thereof the word "four."—[Mr. Shaw.]

Proposed words, as amended, there inserted in the Bill.