HL Deb 24 July 1996 vol 574 cc1406-7

4.35 p.m.

Earl Ferrers rose to move, That the draft regulations laid before the House on 16th July be approved [28th Report from the Joint Committee].

The noble Earl said: My Lords, I begin by offering my sincere apologies, and those of my department, to your Lordships, for drawing on the patience of the House again to consider these regulations. They were originally laid before the House on 27th June and they were debated by your Lordships on 9th July and by another place on 16th July.

It was during the proceedings in another place on 16th July that it was pointed out by the honourable Member for Makerfield, Mr. McCartney, that the figures in Regulation 2(c) were incorrect. That caused some concern. It was found that a mistake had been made, but it was not possible at that point to tell another place what the correct figure should be.

That being the case, it was decided to withdraw the original draft statutory instrument and to lay a corrected draft. The corrected regulations were therefore laid before the House on 16th July. This will enable the regulations to come into force on the date originally intended of 1st August.

The regulations are being made under the Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers' Compensation) Act 1979. The purpose of the regulations is to increase by 2.1 per cent. the amounts of compensation which are paid under the Act to those who first satisfy all the conditions of entitlement on or after 1st August 1996.

Regulation 2(c) of the draft statutory instrument had originally stated: in regulation 6(1) (payment where pneumoconiosis is accompanied by tuberculosis), for the amount of £3,575 there shall be substituted the amount of £3,650".

The figure of £3,575 was incorrect. The figure should have been £3,654.

Your Lordships may say that the mistake was rather like the housemaid's baby—it was only a small one. Nevertheless, it should not have been made and I apologise for the fact that it was. With an increase of 2.1 per cent. the figure of £3,650 now becomes £3,731. The regulations before the House today have been amended accordingly. I apologise again to your Lordships for the fact that I ask your Lordships to consider this matter again but, nevertheless, I hope that noble Lords will approve the regulations. I beg to move.

Moved, That the draft regulations laid before the House on 16th July be approved [28th Report from the Joint Committee].—(Earl Ferrers.)

Lord Graham of Edmonton

My Lords, I thank the Minister for advising me as soon as he could that this procedure would take place this afternoon. He has acted entirely properly and put right what was clearly an oversight, for which he has apologised. With the error being on the right side, we have no objection to the order coming forward again. As the noble Earl said as regards the baby being only a small one, all these things are conceivable.

Noble Lords

Oh!

Lord Graham of Edmonton

My Lords, we on these Benches recognise that it is an error which has been put right as quickly as possible for the benefit of those who have great problems. We are grateful to the Minister.

On Question, Motion agreed to.