§ 1. Mr. TINKERasked the Minister of Labour whether he can make arrangements to close the gap between the cessation of payment of compensation to injured workmen and the commencement of unemployment benefits in cases where the workman is served with 10 days' notice and is then declared fit for work by the medical referee?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Mr. R. S. Hudson)I cannot at present add anything to the reply on this subject given to the hon. Member on 23rd February. My right hon. Friend is, however, looking further into the matter in consultation with the Secretary of State for Home Affairs.
§ Mr. TINKERIs the hon. Gentleman aware that last week the hon. Member 1248 for Gorbals (Mr. Buchanan) put a similar question to the Minister of Health, who has made up the difference in regard to National Health Insurance, and cannot the same thing be done for those who receive workmen's compensation?
§ Mr. HUDSONI am not sure from the question exactly to which period my hon. Friend is referring—whether to the 10 days' notice or to what happens after a man has been declared fit for work by the referee. If he is referring to the latter point, he will realise that the law as regards Health Insurance is not quite the same as the law with regard to workmen's compensation. The latter is a little more complicated, but I hope to see if we can get an arrangement on the same lines.
§ Mr. TINKERI am referring to the latter point, and I accept the assurance of the hon. Gentleman that he will go into the matter and see what can be done.