HC Deb 27 July 1943 vol 391 cc1409-10W
Sir H. Williams

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will appoint a committee to examine the effect of Section 3 of the Personal Injuries (Emergency Provisions) Act, 1939, under which His Majesty's subjects are deprived of their common law and other rights and having regard to the fact that it was one of six Acts passed through all stages on 3rd September, 1939, and of which hon. Members had had no prior notice?

Sir W. Womersley

The Personal Injuries (Emergency Provisions) Act, 1939, provided compensation on a uniform basis for civilian personnel suffering war injuries. In many cases no compensation would otherwise have been payable and in some cases it is in substitution for some other form of compensation. The Government considered it reasonable that there should be a standard scheme for all cases covered by the Act and this position would not have resulted if the alternative had been allowed of claiming under other provisions which the Act replaced. I therefore adhere to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend on the 24th November, 1942.