HC Deb 25 June 1953 vol 516 cc2198-9

Considered in Committee under Standing Order No. 84 (Money Committees) [Queen's Recommendation signified].

[Mr. HOPKIN MORRIS in the Chair]

Motion made, and Question proposed, That, for the purposes of any Act of the present Session to make further provision with respect to the system of insurance established by the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Act, 1946, and to extend the class of persons to whom certain benefits may be paid under section eighty-two of that Act and the benefits under that Act which may be so paid, it is expedient to authorise—

  1. (a) the payment out of moneys provided by Parliament of any increase in the contribution so payable under paragraph (b) of section two of the 1946 Act, being an increase attributable to provisions of the new Act which either extend the employments in connection with ships, vessels and aircraft, which are insurable employments under the 1946 Act or relate to the payment of contributions in respect of an insured person under the 1946 Act otherwise than by reference to weeks in which the insured person is employed; and
  2. (b) the treatment as expenses incurred in carrying the 1946 Act into effect which under section sixty of that Act are to be paid out of moneys provided by Parliament subject to reimbursement to the Treasury out of the Industrial Injuries Fund of any expenses incurred by the Minister of National Insurance or any other Government department by virtue of the new Act.—[Mr. Boyd-Carpenter.]

9.8 p.m.

Mr. Houghton

I shall not detain the Committee for more than a few moments, but I want some assurances about the scope of the Money Resolution. The Parliamentary Secretary made an appeal a while ago to hon. Members on this side not to overload the Committee stage of the Bill. I can assure the hon. Gentleman that we will heed that plea as far as we can because we appreciate fully the importance of speed in getting these new provisions through the House and through their final stages.

The hon. Gentleman referred to this Bill as one which is undertaking running repairs. There may be one or two matters upon which we want to do some repairs that are not included in the Bill. Can I be sure that attention can be given to amendment of Section 14 of the principal Act? I am always puzzled as to how one can get assurances on a Money Resolution, but this is important, because this is where to define the limits of our actions in Committee. We believe that certain Sections of the principal Act will be the subject of discussion in the Committee. One especially is Section 14, which deals with cases of special hardship. May I ask whether an amendment of Section 14 of the principal Act would be within the scope of the Money Resolution?

Mr. Peake

This Financial Resolution deals only with any charges that may fall upon the Exchequer as a result of the passage of the Bill. It does not touch in any way any charges that may fall upon the Industrial Injuries Insurance Fund. Of course, any opinion I express is subject to the ruling of the Chairman of the Standing Committee, but so far as I know it would not be out of order to put down or to discuss Amendments in the Standing Committee which increased the charge upon the Industrial Injuries Insurance Fund. This Financial Resolution deals only with some very small consequent charges that will fall upon the Exchequer as the result of the passage of the Bill.

Mr. Houghton

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for that statement, which is completely satisfactory.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolution to be reported tomorrow.