§ 30. Mr. TINKERasked the Home Secretary how many workpeople who have been entitled to compensation under the Work men's Compensation Act have failed to get it because the employer has become bankrupt during the years 1925, 1926, 1927, and 1928?
§ Mr. CLYNESI regret that the figures asked for by my hon. Friend are not available. It appears, however, from inquiries made in the coalmining industry that during the last three years there have been seven cases of liquidation in which, through the employers' failure to insure, workpeople have been permanently deprived of their compensation. In five of these cases some 85 workmen or their dependants were affected; in the other two cases the number has not yet been ascertained. I should add that these figures do not include cases where, owing to the funds immediately available being insufficient, workmen have been temporarily kept out of their compensation pending a final settlement.
§ 31. Mr. TINKERasked the Home Secretary the number of employers who do not insure against the risks under the Work men's Compensation Act; and what percentage 2394 does this represent of the number who are called upon to make returns to him for the year 1928?
§ Mr. CLYNESAs shown on page 4 of the Workmen's Compensation Statistics for 1928, 17,696 returns were received from uninsured employers. This represents roughly 12½ per cent. of the total number of employers covered by the returns.
§ Mr. TINKERWill the right hon. Gentleman take steps to have the law amended to bring in these people who are getting out of their responsibilities?
§ Mr. CLYNESClearly there is a grievance, but I cannot give a promise at present to cover that grievance by legislation. In the main, these employers are of the small type usually associated with classes of employment deemed to be safe.
§ Mr. SEXTONWill the right hon. Gentleman undertake that, if a Bill is introduced to cover this grievance, he will give facilities for passing it through the House?
§ Mr. CLYNESThat is a question for the Prime Minister.