§ Viscount Lambtonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will reconsider his decision to make an ex gratia payment of £20 to Mr. Brewis in compensation for the discomfort and loss of income he suffered from having contracted foot-and-mouth disease.
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§ Mr. John MackieNo, Sir. Mr. Brewis was not an employee of the Ministry. He contracted the disease in the employment of a firm of contractors. During the short period when he stayed away from farms on Ministry advice, he was in receipt of his normal wages. The Ministry has made an ex gratia payment accordingly to the contractors. Mr. Brewis did however suffer a loss of his normal commission earnings. These were partly made up for by the social security benefits which he received, and the Ministry has offered the ex gratia payment of £20 to make up his loss of commission in full.
§ Viscount Lambtonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will introduce legislation to enable men or women who suffered from foot-and-mouth disease to be entitled to compensation.
§ Mr. John MackieNo sir. Provision of benefit under the Industrial Injury Scheme is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Social Security.