§ Mr. HANCOCKasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether medical referees have been appointed as per Section 10 of the Workmen's Compensation Act in all trades to which that Act applies; and, if so, whether he would issue a Return giving the names and addresses of all such referees and the respective districts in which they thus act?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLReferees are not appointed for particular trades, but for areas, namely, the county court circuits and the districts into which the circuits are divided. In a number of circuits, specialist referees have been appointed for particular industrial diseases, such as lead poisoning; but subject to this, the referees take all cases arising in their areas. A list of the referees is printed for Home Office use, but it has not been placed on sale because all references to referees have to be made by the registrar of the county court, and employers and workmen do not require therefore to consult a list. Changes in the list also are fairly frequent. I think it is unnecessary to incur the expense of issuing the list as a return; but if the hon. Member desires it, I shall be happy to have one or two copies of the list corrected up to date placed in the Library for reference.