HC Deb 27 June 1939 vol 349 cc201-2
39. Mr. J. Griffiths

asked the Secretary of State for War upon what basis compensation will be assessed in the case of a militiaman who is injured in the course of his service, and the nature and extent of such injuries disable him from resuming his pre-service occupation; whether, in such cases the loss of prospective earning capacity will be taken into account; whether, in such cases there will be an obligation upon his employer to provide him with suitable alternative employment; and, if not, whether such obligation will be accepted by the State?

Mr. Hore-Belisha

A militiaman who suffers disablement attributable to his Army service will be eligible for a disability award under the ordinary code applicable to regular soldiers, the pension being assessed according to the degree of his disablement. As regards the obligation of an employer to provide a militiaman with suitable alternative employment, Section 7 (1) of the Military Training Act, 1939, lays down the procedure in regard to reinstatement. The obligation accepted by the State is the provision of a disability award.

Mr. Griffiths

Would the right hon. Gentleman reply to the last part of my question and say whether, if a militiaman between the ages of 20 and 21 years is disabled from returning to his former employment or to his normal industry, the loss of prospective earnings will be taken into account; is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in civil life that is a provision in workmen's compensation, and will the same provision be made?

Mr. Hore-Belisha

Yes, Sir, I think the provision on the whole is better. If he be totally disabled he will have a pension for the rest of his life, and correspondingly a lower pension for lower degrees of disablement.

Mr. Griffiths

If he is partially disabled?

Mr. Hore-Belisha

I cannot set out the whole code in answer to a question, but whatever the appropriate award, which is often better than the workmen's compensation, he will receive it.