HC Deb 31 March 1927 vol 204 cc1396-7
14. Mr. TINKER

asked the Home Secretary the cost per £l of wages of compensation paid in 1925, under the Workmen's Compensation Act, in each of the following industries: shipping, factories, docks, mines, quarries, constructional work and railways?

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

It is estimated that the compensation paid per £l of wages in 1925 amounted to 5.4d. for the coal mining industry and just under 1d. for the railways. I regret that it is not possible to give corresponding figures for the other industries.

Mr. TINKER

Will the right hon. Gentleman try to get the figures for the other industries?

Sir W. JOYNSN-HICKS

I have tried, but I do not think it is possible. If I inquired all round, it might be possible to get them in time, but it would mean a great amount of labour.

Mr. TINKER

The two figures mentioned are given in the statistics, and I was wondering whether other statistics could not be given in regard to the other industries.

Mr. BECKETT

Could not the insurance companies help the right hon. Gentleman in this matter?

15. Mr. TINKER

asked the Home Secretary the amount of compensation paid in 1925 under the Workmen's Compensation Act, apart from fatal accidents; and what the amount would have been if the first three days hud been paid for to those cases which were under four weeks' duration?

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

The amount paid in 1925 in cases of disablement in the seven groups of industries from which returns are obtained was £5,778,204. The amount paid in other industries is not known. As regards the second part of the question, I regret that the information necessary to enable any close calculation to be made is not available; but if we take the average rate of compensation in disablement cases during 1925 at 20 shillings—this of course is an arbitrary figure—the additional cost of the three days in the cases mentioned would have been somewhere between £100,000 and £120,000.

Mr. TINKER

Are the Government now considering the question of doing away with the period of three days?

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

That does not arise out of the question.

Mr. KELLY

Seeing that the insurance companies are already making a return to the Government, could they not be asked to make the return suggested in the Question?

Sir W. JOYNS0N-HICKS

I will consider whether the information is of sufficient importance to justify the expenditure which would be necessary.