Orders of the Day — Contributory Pensions Bill.

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons am ar 15 Gorffennaf 1925.

Danfonwch hysbysiad imi am ddadleuon fel hyn

Photo of Sir William Rees Sir William Rees , Bristol South

I have listened to the Debate with a perfectly open mind and I think the case put up for this Amendment is unanswerable on the basis of equity, on the basis of fair play, and certainly on the basis of honour. We have had no answer from the Parliamentary Secretary which would justify the rejection of the Amendment. I do not intend to go into the legal aspect of the question, but the main point to me appears to be that the man when he is in employment is insured against accident. Take the case of the coal industry for example. There the owner pays a certain percentage to cover accident, and should there be a fatal accident the law provides that a certain portion of that compensation shall go to the children. There has been payment for it, and the payment has been made, technically, by the employer, but everybody knows that in one form or another the men contribute their share to the payment for that provision. I should think that it may be about fifty-fifty as between the owner and the men. At least, the men pay a very large proportion of the cost of securing that insurance. [HON. MEMBERS: "Seventy-five per cent."] Whatever it is, there is the payment, and they are entitled to full benefit for that payment. Now we have this scheme of insurance, and here again the man and the owner and, in a certain proportion, the State contribute to certain benefit. I think it unfair and unreasonable to expect that these dependants should be deprived of the full value of the payments made towards that insurance. I fail to see why the Amendment cannot be accepted, and I hope it will be pressed, because there is a vital issue at stake. This is very similar to the Debate of last night. We took up the same attitude on the question of ex-service men, and I think in this case the Minister ought to agree to our proposal. The hon. and gallant Member for Central Hull (Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy) asked what the cost would be, and I think it would help us very much if we had that information. But whatever it is, I do not think the children ought to be made to suffer, and on that ground, if on no other, I hope the Minister will agree to the Amendment, or agree to the deletion of the Clause entirely.