§ 22. Mr. Tinkerasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the hardships inflicted on injured workmen through the delay in getting before the medical referee under the Workmen's Compensation Act; and will he consider some method by which a workman is not deprived of payment of compensation when several weeks have elapsed since notice was given to him before he was examined by the referee?
§ Mr. H. MorrisonOn receipt of a reference under the Act the medical referee is required by the Regulations to fix a date for the examination of the workman as early as practicable and in any case not later, except in unavoidable circumstances, than the seventh day after he receives the reference. I can trace no recent complaint as to delay on the part of medical referees, but if my hon. Friend will furnish me with particulars of actual cases in which there is said to have been undue delay, I shall be glad to look into them.
§ Mr. TinkerThere are several cases in the mining industry in Lancashire, and I shall be glad to give my right hon. Friend the information or to meet him to discuss the matter with him.