§ Mr. Oliverasked the Home Secretary whether the agreement made between his Department and employers and their insurers in May, 1942, relating to election under Section 29 of the Workmen's Compensation Acts was intended to apply in appropriate cases to claims falling within the provisions of Section 30 of the Act, and if not, will the agreement be extended to include workmen who have a claim under Section 30, but by reason of their having accepted compensation may be deprived of their common law right of action against a tortfeasor who is not their employer?
§ Mr. H. MorrisonThe agreement referred to did not extend to claims against third parties under the provisions of Section 30 of the Act, but I am in consultation with the insurance interests on the matter and am hopeful that, so far as they are concerned, a satisfactory agreement may be reached. Only one case under that Section has been brought to my notice and in that case steps have been taken which I trust will result in the withdrawal of the defence that the workman, having accepted compensation under the Act, is debarred from recovering damages at common law.