Workmen's Compensation.

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at on 3 May 1922.

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Photo of Mr Thomas Grundy Mr Thomas Grundy , Rother Valley

I beg to second the Motion.

I do not think I need attempt to deal with the reports that have been mentioned. Both the majority and the minority reports recommended some increase in the amount of compensation, both weekly and in fatal accidents, which are at present being paid. The weekly payments went up from £1 to 35s., an increase of 75 per cent., but I hold that that was altogether inadequate. I remember a year or two ago making inquiries at the board of guardians in the area in which I live and I found that in poor relief alone that board of guardians was granting between £1,000 and £2,000 per year to people who were receiving insufficient weekly payments in the shape of compensation. I hardly think any hon. Member will think it right that Poor Law authorities should be called upon to supplement what in my opinion it is the duty of the industries to bear. In one of our most dangerous trades, coalmining, with approximately 1,200 fatal accidents: per year, and with thousands of miners who come on to weekly compensation for injury, the payments for compensation are-the equivalent of 2.44d. per ton. I hold that it is the bounden duty of that industry at least to see that when injury comes the men are adequately remunerated. I am hoping to hear a statement from the Home Secretary that at last something will be done to carry out the recommendations of the Committee. It is a long time since the Committee gave its report, and there have been scores of questions from these Benches asking for legislation on the subject. I hope the Home Secretary will give us some assurance to-night that the Government intend to deal with this matter as speedily as possible. In regard to the question of compensation, the position of the widows and children of those who have been fatally injured is probably the worst case of all. The present minimum is £150, and it goes up to a maximum of £300 payable to a widow, but there are cases where the man has had a lingering period before he dies, and when his death takes place there is very little for the widow. When the man dies, the amount that has been paid to him is deducted from, the amount payable to the widow. I dealt with these cases at the colliery where I was employed, from the inception of the Act until the time I was elected to this House, and I remember one case particularly where on the, death of the man the widow had only £10 or £12 to draw in compensation.

The Report of the Committee made provision for the continuance of compensation to the children up to a certain age, and I hope that if the Home Secretary intends to legislate upon this matter, that is one of the recommendations which he will not overlook. Legislation is urgently necessary. Whatever increases may be made in the weekly payment, I hope that those who are in receipt of weekly payments when the period of increased payments start will automatically receive the increase. I do not call that retrospective legislation. The main point that ought to be considered and watched is the position of the widow and children of those who are fatally injured. There has been no increase in the amount, and I have pointed out how inadequately and hardly the widows and children are dealt with. The Act expires this year, and it is necessary that something should be done without delay. Let us look at this matter not from a political point of view, but from the human point of view. This is not a political question but a human question, and we ought to look at it in a broad and sympathetic manner.