HC Deb 14 July 1952 vol 503 cc1802-3
44. Mr. T. Brown

asked the Minister of National Insurance the number of applications received by the Workmen's Compensation Board, Supplementation pre-1924 cases, from 8th July, 1951, to 8th July, 1952, setting out the number of total incapacity cases, the number of partial incapacity cases, the number of claims disallowed, the total amount of compensation paid out to these cases, respectively, during the 12 months in question; the number of allowances which were terminated during the period in question because of death; and the number of claims undecided at 8th July, 1952.

The Minister of National Insurance (Mr. Osbert Peake)

I propose to circulate the latest available figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT. Some further information should shortly be available and I will let the hon. Member have it as soon as I can.

Mr. Brown

Do the figures which the right hon. Gentleman proposes to circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT contain those for the full 12 months' operation of this Act? It is essential that we should know the figures and how this Act has worked in relation to injured workmen.

Mr. Peake

The figures will cover the full number of persons affected by the Act, but I have not yet available the figures of the finance relating to them.

Mr. Brown

Is the right hon. Gentleman now in a position to amplify the policy on workmen's compensation enunciated by his Parliamentary Secretary on 2nd May, when he made the following declaration: Our policy is to examine the whole position of workmen's compensation in consultation with the T.U.C. and see whether any just and equitable solution of it can be obtained."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 2nd May, 1952; Vol. 499, C. 1893.] Is the Minister now in a position to carry out that promise?

Mr. Peake

That does not arise as a supplementary question about the pre-1924 cases. If the hon. Gentleman will put down a Question next week I will certainly give him an answer.

Following are the figures:

WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION (SUPPLEMENTATION) SCHEME, 1951
Period from 11th July, 1951, to 5th July, 1952
Total incapacity Partial incapacity Total
Applications received 693 2,623 3,320
Claims disallowed — — 362
Deaths of recipients — — 127

The number of cases awaiting decision on 5th July, 1952, was 168.

The latest readily available figure for the amount of compensation is for the last week of December when approximately £300 was paid for persons totally incapacitated was £2,200 for persons partially incapacitated.