§ CLAUSE 2.—(Explanation of restrictions in Section 4 of principal Act.)
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Clause stand part of the Bill."
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYI want to ask a question with regard to Sub-section (4), a matter of detail but of some importance. Under that Subsection we give powers to the Government of Northern Ireland in connection with 849 compensation for injury to master seamen and apprentices in the Merchant Service and pilots and apprentices in the fishing service. Is it the intention of the Government of Northern Ireland to lay down a scale of compensation not inferior to that ruling in this country? A certain number of these seamen and pilots were originally subjects of this Parliament alone, and I want to make it certain that the Government of Northern Ireland have no power to worsen their conditions as regards compensation for injury at sea.
§ Sir V. HENDERSONThe hon. Member can rest assured that the scales are the same in both cases.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs there any power to alter them? Can they be lowered?
§ Sir V. HENDERSONNo, I do not think so. This is consolidating legislation dealing with workmen's compensation, and this particular bit of it, which is really a re-enactment of an Imperial Statute, is desired to be put in so as to make the consolidation complete, because otherwise it would be only partial. In doing so we want to make it clear that they have that power, but there is no intention 850 of enabling them to adopt a lower standard of compensation in Northern Ireland as compared with England.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYThey cannot do it in the future?
§ Sir V. HENDERSONNo, not as I am advised.