Mr Thomas Steele: At the end of three months we come to the first assessment so far as conditional assessment is concerned. We allow a period of three months in all those cases to give us an opportunity to go into all the facts, because it should be borne in mind that compensation does not only cover mere salary; it is for other things as well, such as travelling privileges and many other emoluments....
Mr Thomas Steele: A person who has been working with an approved society makes an application. To cover the period of the first three months, on that application we have what is more or less a maintenance allowance. During those three months the conditions are assessed, and then he is awarded conditional compensation. That conditional compensation can be altered on a change of circumstances at periods of six...
Mr Thomas Steele: I will come to that. The other point which the hon. Gentleman raised was on Regulation 2 about a body administering the affairs of an approved society. These are words taken from the Act itself, and they are intended to cover approved societies in connection with trade unions and other bodies where the parent body used the staff to undertake the work of both the trade union and the approved...
Mr Thomas Steele: We are dealing with approved society staff rather than the ordinary industrial agent. The "net emoluments" means the "normal annual rate." That is perfectly true. I think the word "normal" is the effective one, because in the case of a person I mentioned his rate has gone up from £500 to £850, but the £850 would have to be the normal rate because in effect that was the salary which he was...
Mr Thomas Steele: During the period from 5th July, 1948, to 31st December, 1948, 28 miners employed in North Staffordshire were examined by the Pneumoconiosis Medical Board under the Industrial Injuries Act, and 23 were found to be suffering from pneumoconiosis. Of these, nine were advised that they could continue in the coalmining industry under approved conditions, and five said they proposed to do so....
Mr Thomas Steele: The medical board advise these people that they can return to work under approved conditions, and we are in consultation with the National Coal Board and its mine inspectors to ensure that these approved conditions will be maintained.
Mr Thomas Steele: During the period from 5th July, 1948, to 31st December, 1948, 489 persons employed in the pottery industry in North Staffordshire were examined, either on a claim to benefit or on an initial or periodical examination, by the Pneumoconiosis Medical Board, of whom 40 were found to be suffering from pneumoconiosis. None of them were advised to return to their former work; but nine of them,...
Mr Thomas Steele: None of the men who have pneumoconiosis is advised to return to work. It lies with the medical board whether or not to suspend the men. There are no similar conditions in pottery as in mining, for which we have approved conditions.
Mr Thomas Steele: That is very much in the mind of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour who is concerned with that aspect of the problem.
Mr Thomas Steele: The whole of the capital assets of the Health and Unemployment Insurance and Contributory Pensions Schemes were transferred by virtue of Section 66 of the National Insurance Act, 1946, to the National Insurance (Reserve) Fund on the 5th July, 1948, and a sum of £100 million was transferred from that Fund to the National Insurance Fund on the same date. Apart from this transfer, no payment...
Mr Thomas Steele: The extent of the assets is due to the full employment policy of the Government being successful.
Mr Thomas Steele: As regards the first part of the Question it is open to any old age or retirement pensioner whose resources are insufficient for his needs to apply for supplementary assistance under the improved scale of National Assistance introduced in July last. In reply to the second part, the net additional cost of the change including appropriate increases for wives of pensioners would be about £35...
Mr Thomas Steele: My right hon. Friend has it in mind to issue such booklets about the National Insurance and Industrial Injuries schemes at an appropriate time but it would be premature to do so yet. The question whether there should be a similar publication relating to the Health Service would be a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health.
Mr Thomas Steele: I appreciate the part about the questions because I get many questions from hon. Members every day. However, we have a very good series of leaflets dealing with these problems. A Question about a publication covering them all is rather premature because certain very important regulations have still to come before the House and, as hon. Members know, the question of hospital deductions is...
Mr Thomas Steele: I beg to move, That the Draft National Insurance (Mariners) Amendment Regulations, 1949, a copy of which was presented on 18th January, be approved. These regulations deal with one of the most difficult problems that have confronted us in bringing into operation the new comprehensive scheme of National Insurance, namely how to insure all share fishermen. For many years past share fishermen...
Mr Thomas Steele: I would refer the hon. Member to the Estimates for my Department for 1948–49 included in the Civil Estimates Class V. The numbers employed and the salary costs have conformed substantially with the information given in those Estimates.
Mr Thomas Steele: I am aware of these inquiries, but old people who find their pensions insufficient for their needs can apply to the National Assistance Board for supplementation in accordance with rules approved by this House as recently as July last. As regards any general increase in pension rates, I would refer my hon. Friend to the letter which my right hon. Friend recently sent to the hon. Member for...
Mr Thomas Steele: My hon. Friend referred specifically in his Question to pension rates, which I think was covered very adequately in the letter to the hon. Member for East Ham, North. So far as discretion is concerned, each local officer of the assistance board is allowed a certain discretion, which we know he does use in particular instances.
Mr Thomas Steele: The specific Question put to me is in connection with the pension rates under the National Insurance Scheme. As far as the scales for National Assistance are concerned, I would draw attention to the fact that this matter was discussed in July last and was warmly approved by the House.
Mr Thomas Steele: Owing to the increased volume of claims in January work fell slightly into arrear in some offices in Cardiff. Steps were taken to deal with the situation which I am informed has now much improved.
