HC Deb 20 January 1944 vol 396 cc396-7W
Sir C. Edwards

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that a small number of men suffered accidents prior to 1924 and consequently do not come under the recent compensation Act; that these men are in receipt of 35s. a week only, without any hope of improvement unless they are brought within the latest Act; and will he take steps to do this.

Mr. H. Morrison

The recent Act made provision for increasing the supplementary allowances payable under the Act of 1940, and the Act of 1940 applies only to cases occurring on or after 1st January, 1924. All recent workmen's compensation legislation has been limited in its retrospective application to cases occurring on or after 1st January, 1924, and it has not been found practicable to apply these war-time increases retrospectively beyond that date. Workmen injured before 1st January, 1924, are in a special position because they have continued to receive the additions provided under the War Addition Acts of the last war, and they were until recent years in receipt of compensation at a higher rate than workmen injured after 1st January, 1924.