§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what studies his Department has undertaken on(a) privatising industrial injuries compensation and (b) the cost and extent of existing employer financed industrial injuries insurance. [151322]
§ Mr. RookerAs part of our wider programme of Welfare Reform, we have examined the costs and benefits of an option for the modernisation of the Industrial Injuries scheme by replacing it with a no-fault compensation scheme fully funded by employers through the use of compulsory private insurance.
We continue to keep the industrial injuries scheme under review. Under the Employer's Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969, all employers (with specific exceptions) carrying out business in Great Britain are required to take out cover against liability for work-related bodily injury and disease. The cost of such insurance is a matter for employers and the insurance industry.
§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Baker) of 30 January 2000,Official Report, column 140W, concerning industrial injuries benefits, what proportion of such benefits are industrial injuries compensation. [151321]
§ Mr. RookerThe figure of £756 million given in my answer to the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Baker) was net of benefits recovered from compensation payments.
Gross expenditure on Industrial Injuries benefits in 1999–2000 was £787 million and the amount of benefits recovered from compensation payments was £32 million.
Note:
The figures do not sum due to rounding.