HC Deb 24 July 1967 vol 751 cc14-5

Lords Amendment: In page 3, line 38, at the end to insert: () In section 14(1) of the Old Cases Act, in the definition of 'pneumoconiosis', after the word 'treated' there shall be inserted the words for the purposes of any scheme under section 2 or 5 of this Act'; and in section 14(2) of that Act for the words 'an allowance under the said section 2 or 5' there shall be substituted the words 'any such scheme'.

10.35 a.m.

The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Social Security (Mr. Charles Loughlin)

I beg to move, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment.

The object of the Amendment is merely to remedy a defect in the Industrial Injuries and Diseases (Old Cases) Act, 1967, which was a recent consolidation Measure. My hon. Friend the Member for Merthyr Tydfil (Mr. S. O. Davies) introduced a Bill, which became an Act, to deal with the scheme for old cases, whereby those who suffered from pneumoconiosis to the extent of 50 per cent. had taken into account in their assessment any accompanying bronchitis and emphysema. This was intended to apply both in life and in respect of death, and I feel that the House was clear in its intentions. Unfortunately, the word "allowance" was used in the consolidation Measure. Consequently, as the payment for death under the Old Cases Act was in the nature of a lump sum, the word "allowance" was felt not to meet the situation. It is therefore necessary to insert these words in the present Bill to ensure that the position is as the House intended it to be.

10.37 a.m.

Mr. Paul Dean (Somerset, North)

I am obliged to the Parliamentary Secretary for his explanation. I congratulate the person whose eagle eye spotted this error when the consolidation Measure was going through. All who took part in the debates were quite clear that the intention was as the hon. Gentleman has just said. We all felt that that was right, and we therefore support the Amendment.

Question put and agreed to.