HC Deb 11 May 1932 vol 265 cc1891-3
18. Mr. HICKS

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps have been taken in British Colonies and Protectorates to give effect to the provisions of the conventions on workmen's compensation (accidents and diseases) and on sickness insurance, adopted at the seventh and tenth conferences of the International Labour Organisation?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER

The answer is a long one, and, with the hon. Member's permission, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the answer:

Three conventions relating to workmen's compensation were adopted at the seventh session of the International Labour Conference. Of these, the convention relating to workmen's compensation for accidents has not been ratified in respect of the United Kingdom. The question of applying this convention to the British Colonies and Protectorates, in accordance with the provisions of Article 421 of the Treaty of Versailles, does not therefore arise. The convention relating to equality of treatment for national and foreign workers in the matter of workmen's compensation has been substantially applied in the Dependencies in which workmen's compensation legislation already exists, of which particulars were given in my reply to a question by the hon. Member for Chester-le-Street on the 9th of March. The convention relating to workmen's compensation for occupational diseases has been applied (with suitable local variations in the diseases covered) in Malta and (so far as non-native workmen are concerned) in Northern Rhodesia.

The administration of compulsory sickness insurance schemes, as contemplated in the two conventions which were adopted at the tenth session of the International Labour Conference is not at present practicable in the Colonies and Protectorates. In the majority of the Dependencies, however, free medical and hospital treatment is provided either by the Government, or (in some Dependencies under Statute) by large employers of organised labour. In other words, certain of the objects of these conventions are to a great extent attained without any specific contributions from the persons who derive benefit from the facilities provided.