§ 6. Mr. MARDY JONESasked the Home Secretary if he has now completed his inquiries into the facts as to how many colliery companies in Great Britain have insured and how many have not insured against their liabilities to their employés under the Workmen's Compensation Acts: and can he state how many employés are covered by insurance and how many are not so insured?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThe total number of colliery owners insured with insurance companies or mutual indemnity associations was, according to the last returns, 1,607. The total number uninsured was 476. The aggregate number of persons employed at the insured collieries was. shown by the returns to be 782,619. The corresponding figure for the uninsured collieries was 242,299.
§ Mr. JONESIn making these inquiries, has the right hon. Gentleman ascertained what proportion of these people were affected by the liquidation of the concerns?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThere are other questions on that point.
§ 18. Mr. JOHNasked the Home Secretary whether he is now able to provide statistics showing, with reference to the colliery companies in South Wales that have gone into liquidation during the last two years, the number which had not insured with an insurance company against workmen's compensation risk; and the number of workmen who are deprived of their right to compensation in consequence?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSMy information on this point is not quite complete but replies received from the liquidators of 32 South Wales companies, show that three of these companies had not insured and that in one case the failure to insure resulted in a permanent loss of compensation affecting 12 workmen. As explained in my replies to other questions on this subject, hardship has also been suffered by a number of workmen through the stoppage of the weekly payments pending a final settlement of the claims.
§ 19 and 20. Mr. JOHNasked the Home Secretary, (1) whether he is aware that about 800 miners have been deprived of 1919 their compensation payments because the Cambrian Colliery Company, the Naval Colliery Company, and the Glamorgan Colliery Company have gone into liquidation without having insured against liabilities to their employés, under the Workmen's Compensation Acts; and whether, in view of the distress in which these disabled miners and their dependants have been placed, he will take steps to expedite the payment of the compensation due;
(2) whether, in view of the gravity of the situation, he has given further consideration to the question of introducing this Session a Bill making it compulsory on all colliery companies to insure with an insurance company against workmen's compensation risks?
§ 46. Mr. MARDY JONESasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that several thousands of disabled miners and other workers employed in industries in which serious and/or fatal accidents are frequent have been deprived of their compensation payments in part or in whole due to the failure of the employers to insure against their liabilities to their employés under the Workmen's Compensation Acts; and, in view of the distress in which these disabled workers and their dependants have been placed, will the Government amend the Workmen's Compensation Acts during this Parliament?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThe inquiries I have been making in connection with liquidation of colliery companies do not disclose quite so serious a situation as has been represented. There do not seem to have been more than four cases during the last two years, affecting some 24 workmen or their dependants, where, through failure to insure, the compensation has been permanently lost. On the other hand, it is the case that many workmen have suffered hardship through being kept out of their compensation for longer or shorter periods during the winding-up of the companies. I think it is clear that the present position is unsatisfactory and that it must be dealt with. I need hardly say that I sympathise very much with the unfortunate position in which these workmen are placed and I am taking steps to ascertain whether anything can be done immediately to enable liquidators, in those cases (which form the 1920 majority) where assets exist, to make-advances in compensation cases before liquidation is completed. The question of compulsory insurance is a much larger one. Obviously, any measure, if it were decided to adopt the system, could not be limited to colliery owners but would have to cover all industries and classes of employment, and there would be many technical difficulties in working out a scheme for the purpose. The whole position is being examined, but it is clear that I could not possibly give the pledge asked for without the fullest inquiry and consultation with my colleagues, and that any legislation on the subject would necessarily be of a complicated character.
§ Mr. JONESMay I draw attention to the fact that the question to the Prime Minister refers to the need for legislation affecting injuries to other classes of workers and does not relate to miners alone? Further, has the attention of the right hon. Gentleman been drawn to the White Paper issued by the Government a few weeks ago dealing with the financial aspects of this question in the Workmen's Compensation Act of last year, which revealed that 25 per cent. of the people employed are not covered by insurance? [HON. MEMBERS "Speech!"] Is not that a serious state of things?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThis is a very important question, and it cannot possibly be decided without the fullest inquiry. I am making inquiries as to what legislation would be needed and what the effect of it would be. It is a far-reaching question.
§ Mr. JONESIs there any prospect that the Government will bring forward such a Measure during the present Parliament?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThere will be plenty of time in the next Parliament.
§ Mr. JONESWill the Borne Secretary press for an immediate inquiry into the position of the men at the Cambrian and other collieries who have not received any compensation during the last three months? As they are in adverse circumstances, will he not make immediate inquiries?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSYes, certainly; that is the very question upon which I am consulting my legal advisers.