§ 63. Mr. TINKERasked the Home Secretary if he is in a position to say how many colliery undertakings have gone into liquidation since January, 1927, and how many of them have failed to meet the full claims of injured workmen under the requirements of the Workmen's Compensation Act; and what has been the total deficiency on this account?
§ Mr. HACKINGI would refer the hon. Member to the explanatory statement on pages 13 and 14 of the Workmen's Compensation Statistics for 1932. Since the publication of those statistics, there have been three further liquidations, bringing the total number of liquidations to date since 1st January, 1927, to 283. In 28 of these liquidations the workmen have suffered a permanent loss, totalling about £190,000, and in seven cases not yet settled there is a possibility of such loss.
§ Mr. TINKERIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that recently a colliery closed down in Lancashire and that the workmen were told they were not insured and were not likely to get any benefit? Has not the time arrived for the Government to take some steps in the matter?
§ Mr. HACKINGThe hon. Member knows that it is a very difficult question, and that my right hon. Friend has been 804 taking certain steps to get a mutual understanding. If he asks me whether my right hon. Friend is still satisfied with the existing position, the answer is definitely in the negative.
§ Mr. TINKERIf the Government are not satisfied, surely they ought to get a move on?