12. Mr. Ron Brownasked the Paymaster General how many people have been injured while taking part in Government training schemes since 1979; and what was the total amount of compensation paid out.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleySince 1 April 1981 over £930,000 has been paid under the MSC's industrial injuries scheme. Since 1980, nearly 1.5 million people have entered training opportunities, job training and youth training schemes, and 5,873 have been injured. Nearly all were minor injuries.
Mr. BrownIs the Minister aware that many of those youngsters have no rights and are used as cheap labour? Does he understand that many of them suffer horrendous injuries? I take, for example, the case of James MacCormack, who was severely injured in 1981 and who died this year. He was one of my constituents. He was supposedly receiving training at MacGregors Quayside Mills in Leith. That young fellow suffered a lingering death. He had no rights whatsoever and his family did not even receive the death grant.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The hon. Gentleman must ask a question, not make a statement.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. All the points are important, but the hon. Gentleman must ask a question.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The hon. Gentleman would be better advised to try to obtain an Adjournment debate on this subject.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The hon. Gentleman has been here long enough to know—[Interruption.]—that this is Question Time. He is perfectly entitled to ask a question, but he must put it in the form of a question and not make a statement. The Minister may answer.
§ Mr. BottomleyI am aware of that sad case, and the hon. Gentleman has made persistent representations through correspondence with my ministerial colleagues. It is little consolation to the family, but the same compensation has been paid as would have been paid under the statutory scheme if it had been covered in that way. The arrangements under the MSC are for payments to be made equivalent to the DHSS scheme, even though there is no statutory cover.