§ 24. Mr. MURNINasked the Lord Advocate whether his attention has been drawn to a case in Scotland in which a colliery company offered employment to a miner, who had suffered from miners' nystagmus and had recovered, upon the condition that he would discharge his rights under the Workmen's Compensation Act in respect of any nystagmus which he might contract in the future; and whether he will take steps to prevent conditions of that kind being imposed upon miners who are seeking employment?
§ The LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. Craigie Aitchison)The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Any agreement whereby a workman contracts that the Workmen's Compensation Act shall not apply, unless made under a 1928 scheme certified under the Act, is an invalid agreement and is of no force and effect. It is none the less desirable that workmen should not be subjected to pressure of the kind indicated in the question. I am making representations regarding the matter in the appropriate quarter.