§ 3.14 p.m.
§ BARONESS PHILLIPSrose to move, That the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) (Colliery Workers Supplementary Scheme) Amendment (No. 2) Order 1969, the draft of which was laid before this House on October 29, be approved. The noble Baroness said: My Lords, the Colliery Workers Supplementary Scheme 853 provides supplementary benefit for colliery workers (or their dependants) who receive benefit under the Industrial Injuries Act for colliery accidents or diseases. The Scheme is administered by a National Committee comprising equal numbers of representatives drawn from both sides of the industry. Benefit is provided from a Fund to which contributions are made by employers and employees only—there is no charge on the Exchequer or on the Industrial Injuries Fund. Your Lordships may recall having approved previous Orders maintaining the present rates of supplementary injury and disablement benefits. The Order for which I am now seeking approval will extend this standstill arrangement until June 2, 1970.
The National Coal Board and the unions have been involved in negotiations about not only this Scheme but other benefit schemes in the industry, and although agreement has been reached in principle it has not been possible to agree and to draft all the detailed amendments to the various schemes in time for them to have effect before the present Order expires on December 2. This extension has therefore been requested by both sides of the National Committee. My Lords, I beg to move.
§ Moved, That the Draft National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) (Colliery Workers Supplementary Scheme) Amendment (No. 2) Order 1969, laid before the House on October 29 last, be approved.—(Baroness Phillips.)
§ LORD DERWENTMy Lords, there is just one point that I should like to ask the noble Baroness. Am I to understand from what she says that this standstill of the supplementary benefit is purely so that further negotiations can take place?
§ BARONESS PHILLIPSMy Lords, that is quite correct.
§ LORD BYERSMy Lords, may I ask the noble Baroness whether this applies only to coal mining or to all mining in this country?
§ BARONESS PHILLIPSMy Lords, as I understand it, it applies to coal mining.
On Question, Motion agreed to.