§ Mr. BRIDGEMANasked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to the case of a man, whose allowance under the Workmen's Compensation Act was reviewed by the County Court judge, and at the instance of the insurance company reduced from 7s. to 1d. a week; is he aware that this man lost his right hand a year ago in a clay-crusher at some brickworks; that he is an orphan brought up by foster parents who took him from the union; that he has no relatives; that his own doctor declared him to be unfit to work; and that the funds for carrying on his case have been subscribed by his friends and neighbours; who cannot afford the further cost of an appeal; and will he consider whether, by legislation or otherwise, a further hearing in such cases could be secured without the heavy expense of an appeal?
§ Mr. McKENNAI have seen the newspaper report of the case winch the hon. Member has been good enough to send me, but I have no information otherwise as to the facts of the case. I gather from the report that the judge came to the conclusion that the man was able to do light work and that his health would improve if he tried to do something; and by his decision reducing the compensation to 1d. a week, he left it open to the man to make a further application subsequently to the Court in the event of his condition becoming such as to render him altogether unfit for work. The question at issue seems to have been one of fact, and on questions of fact there is no appeal given by the Act nor in my opinion would it be in the interests generally of injured workmen that there should be. I may point out that under paragraph 15 of the First Schedule to the Act it will at any time be open for the parties to refer the question of the man's condition to one of the Referees appointed under the Act, whose fee for the examination will be payable by the State.