§ 35. Mr. LEONARDasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any statistics showing to what extent employers employing workers entitled to the protection of the Workmen's Compensation Acts do at present insure themselves against claims that may arise; and whether he will take steps to make such insurance compulsory?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir John Gilmour)All the available particulars on this subject are given on pages 4 and 5 of the workmen's compensation statistics for 1933, but I would point out that since that year there has been a considerable extension of insurance in the coal-mining industry and the percentage of claims covered by insurance will no doubt have been substantially increased. The figures for 1934 will not be available before the autumn. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer to the reply given to the hon. Member for Leigh (Mr. Tinker) on the 16th May.
§ Mr. TINKERSeeing that compulsory insurance as applied to the mining industry has been so satisfactory, will the right hon. Gentleman apply it to other industries, and therefore give equality all round?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI cannot say anything about that at the moment.