HC Deb 25 May 1944 vol 400 cc916-7
30. Mr. James Griffiths

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that men employed as under-managers, and in similar grades, are being refused certificates of disablement by the Pneumoconiosis Board on the ground that their remuneration is above the income limit provided in the Workmen's Compensation Act, and that some men disabled by these long diseases are unable to claim compensation; and if he will take steps to remove this limitation.

Mr. H. Morrison

I have no knowledge of the cases, mentioned by my hon. Friend, in which the Silicosis Medical Board have refused certificates. I have had one case brought to my notice, where an under-manager desired to be examined by the Silicosis Medical Board, but, as he agreed that he was not a "workman" as defined in the Act, by reason of the income limit for non-manual workmen, the Board intimated that they were not authorised to entertain an application. The income limit for non-manual workmen in the Act was raised to £420 by the National Health Insurance, Contributory Pensions and Workmen's Compensation Act, 1941, in conformity with the limit for Health and Unemployment Insurance. I am not in a position to forecast the details of future legislation.

Mr. Griffiths

Will my right hon. Friend look into this matter urgently? I know already of a number of men, who occupy this very important position in coalmining, who propose to retire from their present position because the risk of contracting silicosis is so high, and they cannot afford to run that risk. The loss to coalmining will be very serious.

Mr. Morrison

I will take that into account in connection with any permanent legislation which it is proposed to introduce, but I do not think I can bring forward emergency legislation to deal with it.

Mr. Griffiths

Will my right hon. Friend then consider making the legislation retrospective, to cover these cases?

Mr. Morrison

Retrospective legislation is always a difficult matter, but I will consider it.