§ Mr. Bowles148, 149 and 150. asked the Minister of National Insurance (I) whether she is aware that a partial-compensation miner does not benefit from an increase in his earnings, because it is deducted from his compensation, which discourages extra effort; and what action she proposes to take to remedy this matter;
(2) whether she is aware that a partial-compensation miner is worse off when he receives a rise in his earnings, for not only is the rise deducted from his compensation, 23W but also he has to pay Income Tax on the rise; and what action she proposes to take to end this deterrent to increased effort;
(3) whether she is aware that an old age retired miner in receipt of partial-compensation suffers a reduction in his compensation when there is a general wage increase in the industry, although being retired he does not share in the rise; and what action she proposes to take to stop this anomaly.
§ Dr. SummerskillIt has for many years been inherent in the principles underlying Workmen's Compensation that a man's compensation might in certain circumstances be affected by changes in wage rates and I cannot undertake to re-open the question now.