§ 10. Mr. T. WILLIAMSasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that Section 9 of the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1925, has been rendered ineffective as a safeguard to partially incapacitated workmen by certain county court decisions; and, if so, whether it is the intention of the Government to introduce a short amending Bill?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Clynes)I am well aware that the provision which my hon. Friend has in mind has under present conditions proved of very little benefit in many cases, but I am afraid I am not in a position to give any pledge of immediate legislation. All I can say at present is that the matter is receiving-very careful and sympathetic consideration.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSIs not my right hon. Friend aware of the great hardship and injustice which falls upon injured workmen because of the ineffectiveness of Section 9 of the Workmen's Compensation 595 Act, and does he not think that a short amending Bill should be introduced to remove such injustices?
§ Mr. CLYNESWith the leave of the House, I will repeat what I indicated in my answer, namely, that immediate legislation is not always possible even if an injustice exists.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSCan my right hon. Friend give any hope that at a not far distant date such a Bill will be introduced?
§ Mr. CLYNESI shall hope.
§ 34. Mr. PHILIP OLIVERasked the Home Secretary whether he will consider the making of an Order extending the provisions of the Workmen's Compensation Acts dealing with industrial diseases to the disease of cancer of the bladder as affecting workers in aniline factories?
§ Mr. CLYNESAn Order can only be made in respect of a disease which is due to the nature of the employment, and I am advised that it has not yet been definitely established that cancer of the bladder is caused by employment in aniline works. The matter is at present the subject of a research by the London Cancer Hospital and I will consider whether any steps can be taken by my Department to facilitate this investigation.
38. Mr. W. M. ADAMSONasked the Home Secretary whether he intends to revise and amend the existing Workmen's Compensation Acts; and whether he will extend the Regulations to other unclassified diseases arising from industrial processes?
§ Mr. CLYNESAs regards the first part of this question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply just given to the hon. Member for the Pontefract Division (Mr. T. Smith).
As regards the latter part, I shall be glad to consider any proposal for scheduling under the Act any specific industrial disease which has not yet been included. I am advised, however, that I should have no power under the Act to make an Order extending its provisions generally to diseases due to industrial processes.
§ 40. Mr. MORLEYasked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to cases of chronic fribosis of the lungs 596 contracted through inhaling coal dust whilst working in ships' bunkers; and if he will consider the desirability of placing this complaint on the schedule of diseases coming within the scope of the Workmen's Compensation Act?
§ Mr. CLYNESNo such cases have as yet been brought to my notice, but if any cases have come to the knowledge of the hon. Member and he will furnish me with particulars of them, I shall be glad to have the matter investigated.