§ 24. Mr. LEACHasked the Home Secretary whether he will consider new legislation to give the victims of silicosis compensation based on full standard wages 2292 and, in view of the incurable nature of the disease, that no deductions from the amount shall be permissible under any circumstances?
§ Sir J. SIMONThere seems no justification for higher scales of compensation for silicosis than for permanent incapacity due to accidents and other diseases.
§ Mr. D. L. DAVIESWill the right hon. Gentleman take steps to see that the men who, it was intended, should receive compensation, get that compensation?
§ Sir J. SIMONThat matter is under the most urgent consideration and, indeed, was under review as recently as yesterday.
§ Mr. LEACHDo I understand that the Home Secretary is contemplating fresh legislation on this subject?
§ Sir J. SIMONNo, Sir, the question put to me was whether silicosis should be treated, as regards compensation for permanent incapacity, differently from other diseases or accidents, and my answer was that I do not think there can be any good ground for selecting one disease as against another within the scheme.
§ Mr. LEACHThe Home Secretary speaks of consultations going on over this matter. Would it be right to assume that action will be taken when those consultations end?
§ Sir J. SIMONOh, yes, there will be appropriate action at the proper time.
§ 34. Mr. TINKERasked the Home Secretary whether he is in a position to state when the Departmental Committee he has set up to inquire into the Workmen's Compensation Act (Industrial Diseases) will make a report?
§ Sir J. SIMONThe committee which is inquiring, among other things, into the question of compensation for nystagmus and the medical procedure under the Act, has still, I understand, to take a good deal of evidence, and I am afraid I cannot forecast when they will be in a position to report.
§ 39. Mr. TINKERasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the paper, Cmd. 5077, giving returns of statistics of compensation and proceedings under the Workmen's Compensation Acts, covers only about 70 per cent. of the cases; and 2293 whether he will consider making it compulsory for all employers to make returns so that a more comprehensive examination can be made of the working of the Compensation Acts?
§ Sir J. SIMONI am aware that many of the statistics relate only to the large industrial groups in which employers are required to make returns, but it will be appreciated that the Act covers practically all employment, including domestic service, and I do not think that the results of asking for returns from every employer affected by the Act would justify the great labour and expense which would be involved.
§ Mr. TINKERWill the right hon. Gentleman make an attempt to collect this information, because workmen's compensation is becoming more important every day and the House of Commons ought to be in possession of all the facts?
§ Sir J. SIMONI sympathise entirely with the general object of the hon. Gentleman, but we have to consider whether we can reasonably exact such details from every person, and afford the labour and expense involved.