Colonel THORNEasked the Home Secretary if he is aware of the discontent among the workers of the country in consequence of the compensation paid to injured persons under the Workmen's Compensation Acts; and whether the Government has any intention of amending 799W the Workmen's Compensation Acts with a view to providing a standard of compensation more commensurate with the present cost of living?
§ Sir G. CAVEAn Act was passed last year by agreement with the representatives of the employers and the workers which provides for an increase of 25 per cent. in all cases of total disablement for the period of the War and six months after. It was made a condition by the employers that the agreement, which was specially arranged to apply to all past cases in which compensation was still running, as well as to future cases, should be regarded as a final settlement for the period of the War. I would also point out that within the maximum limits fixed by the Compensation Act, as amended by this Act, the amount of compensation has automatically increased with the increase of wages. Since the passing of the War Addition Act I have received very few representations on the subject, and unless there should occur some serious change in the situation I do not think the Government could reopen the question. As I stated in reply to the right hon. Member for Woolwich on Monday, it is proposed shortly to have a general inquiry into the working of the Act, and the whole position, including the scales of compensation, will then be reviewed.