§ Mr. CROOKSasked the Home Secretary whether he will consider the possibility of an amendment to the Workmen's Compensation Act raising the maximum amount payable for loss of life from £300 to £450, in view of the conditions now prevailing?
§ Sir G. CAVEThe compensaion payable under the Act in case of death takes the form of a capital sum which can be invested or otherwise applied in such a way as to make some more or less permanent provision for the dependants, and any proposal for an increase on the ground simply of the present abnormal conditions would present very great difficulties. It was recognised at the time of the negotiations on the Workmen's Compensation (War Addition) Bill last year that the lump sum payments in fatal cases stand on a different footing from the weekly payments in cases of disablement, and it was part of the agreement then arrived at that the amount of the former payments should not be altered. As the right hon. Member will be aware, it is proposed to have a general inquiry into the working of the Act, and the question of the scales of compensation will no doubt then come under consideration.