Miners' Diseases.

Oral Answers to Questions — Unemployment. – in the House of Commons at on 31 March 1926.

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Photo of Sir Charles Edwards Sir Charles Edwards , Bedwellty

56.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that miners' nystagmus and other diseases to which miners are liable are not included in the Third Schedule of the Workmen's Compensation (Consolidated) Act, 1925; and whether, as Section 44 precludes payment of compensation for any diseases not mentioned in the above Schedule to that Act, he will state what steps he proposes to take to make clear the position of persons contracting these diseases after May next?

Photo of Sir Douglas Hacking Sir Douglas Hacking , Chorley

I have been asked to reply. The Act of 1925 was a purely consolidating Measure, and the reason why miners' nystagmus, beat knee, beat elbow and beat hand are not specified in the Third Schedule to the Act is that they are not specified in the corresponding Schedule to the Act of 1906. The right to compensation, however, in respect of these diseases remains unaffected. They were brought within the Act of 1906 by Orders made by the Secretary of State under Section 8 of that Act, and it is expressly provided in the 1925 Act that any Orders in force under a previous Act shall continue in force and have effect as if made under the 1925 Act. Subject, therefore, to the provisions of any future Orders, the new Act will apply to these diseases in precisely the same way as the present Acts. The position is quite clear, and I do not think it should be necessary for me to take any special steps in the matter.