§ Dr. A. Thompsonasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that, while an employee may be paid industrial injury benefit under the National Insurance Acts for an injury sustained in the course of his employment, he may not be able to obtain compensation from an employer of limited financial resources even when a claim has been upheld in a court of law; and whether he will consider introducing legislation to make it compulsory for all employers to insure, over and above the National Insurance Scheme, against personal injury to their employees unless the employer can satisfy him that he has a satisfactory scheme for carrying his own insurance.
§ Mr. HeathThe evidence available to my Department suggests that very few employees injured at work have failed to recover damages awarded to them by the courts, and I therefore consider that legislation requiring compulsory employers' liability insurance would not be justified. If the hon. Member will send me details of any cases known to him, I will look into them.