§ Mr. LAWSONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether he is aware that numbers of men employed on highly dangerous work during the War have been killed or seriously injured as a result of explosions, and these men or their dependants are receiving only the ordinary workmen's compensation; and whether, in view of the character of the work upon which these men were employed and the risks they voluntarily accepted, steps will be taken to provide for them or their dependants on at least as generous a scale as the 556W provision for soldiers and their dependants?
§ Mr. JAMES HOPEI presume that the question relates to employees of Government factories under the control of the Minister of Munitions. I am aware that a number of such employees have sustained injuries or have died as a result of explosions, but the Minister has no power, in the case of these employees, to pay compensation in excess of the Statutory scales provided by the Workmen's Compensation Acts.