§ 71. Mr. Westwoodasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that when an injured workman is certified by an employer's medical officer as fit for light work, if this is contested, backed by a certificate from the injured workman's medical attendant, the workman's compensation is stopped until the decision of the medical referee is made, which decision, if against the workman, may be retrospective to the date of the employer's medical officer's certificate; that this may debar the workman from both workman's compensation and unemployment insurance benefit; and is he prepared to introduce an amendment to the Workmen's Compensation Act to provide full compensation up to the date of the intimation to the workman of the referee's decision.
§ Mr. LloydThe hon. Member's proposal, if I understand it aright, would mean that the employer would be required to pay compensation at the rate for total disablement for a period during which the workman was not, according to the finding of the medical referee, totally disabled. This would appear to involve a serious departure from the general principles of the Act. If, however, the hon. Member will forward to my right hon. Friend particulars of some cases in which any substantial hardship has arisen, he will be prepared to go into them and, if necessary, consult my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour.
§ Mr. WestwoodThat advice will be accepted and cases will be forwarded.