§ Mr. Alan Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how long a delay he anticipates in installing telephones for the disabled in Swansea as a result of his Department's refusal to allow the Post Office staff doing the work to qualify for industrial injuries benefit; and how many disabled people are awaiting telephones in Swansea, in Wales and in the whole country, respectively.
§ Mr. AlisonIt does not seem that the work performed under this voluntary scheme—which I assume the hon. Member has in mind—is covered by the provisions of the Industrial Injuries Act, and my right hon. Friend has no power to 371W pay benefit under the Act unless the statutory conditions are satisfied. I am advised that the Post Office Board is willing to operate the scheme for an experimental period pending the outcome of its examination of the whole problem, but that the branch of the Post Office Engineering Union concerned has suspended voluntary work until the position is clarified.
The information asked for in the second part of the Question is not available.