§ 22. Mr. TINKERasked the Minister of Labour if he is in a position to give the 1715 number of cases passed by the court of referees which the chief insurance officer has objected to and taken before the Umpire from 31st December, 1927; and can he give the percentage this represents of the cases passed?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDDuring the period 1st January, 1928, to 8th October, out of 41,045 claims to benefit recommended for allowance by courts of referees, the chief insurance officer referred to the Umpire 1,639, or 4.0 per cent. of the total.
§ 23. Mr. TINKERasked the Minister of Labour if he can give the number of cases, since 31st December, 1927, where the court of referees have by a majority decision, the chairman dissenting, decided in favour of the workman and in how many of these cases has the chief insurance officer appealed?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDI regret that statistics giving the information desired are not available.
§ Mr. TINKERIf I repeat the question will the information be available?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDNo; I am afraid it is not possible, because as the records are taken it is possible to give some kinds of statistics and not others. Unless it is really of vital importance, it is not advisable to add to the statistics, which are already very numerous.
§ Mr. MACLEANHow is it that in cases where the workmen are turned down they have no right of appeal unless they belong to an association, whereas the chief insurance officer has a right of appeal against decisions of the court of referees?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat raises quite a different point. The question merely asks for figures.
§ Mr. MACLEANAll right. I will put down a question.