Report on the Beveridge proposals

1943-01-19 1943 1940s 20 pages 16. One section considers that the best interests of Workmen's Compensation would be served by allowing it to remain a separate service, subject however, to the condition that in future there should be compulsion on all employers to insure. This section feels...

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Bibliographic Details
Institution:MCR - The Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick
Language:English
English
Published: 19 January 1943
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Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10796/2A251669-7E13-444E-B2CD-3744CE798A57
http://hdl.handle.net/10796/94A87F87-C239-457E-A012-B30015F40337
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Summary:1943-01-19 1943 1940s 20 pages 16. One section considers that the best interests of Workmen's Compensation would be served by allowing it to remain a separate service, subject however, to the condition that in future there should be compulsion on all employers to insure. This section feels that any difficulties or anomalies now being met with in the administration of the system can be adjusted or improved by amendments to the Workmen's Compensation Acts. It desires that the system of benefits should be examined with a view to the adoption of a higher ratio of benefit to earnings, as it is undeniable that for men with good earnings the rate of benefit is inadequate. It should also be laid down in any such amendment to the law that there should be a minimum level of compensation. Lump sum settlements should only be made in exceptional cases, and be payable in part only, the weekly payment being the normal process for Workmen's Compensation. The provision of some acceptable form of legal aid for the victims of industrial accidents and disease is also recommended as a desirable reform. The other section of the Committee (including the Chairman) has come to the conclusion that the most satisfactory solution would be the unification of Workmen's Compensation with the general scheme of sickness insurance on a tripartite basis of contribution. It is satisfied that radical defects exist in the present system, most of which are due to its being based on the liability of the individual employer. Among these defects are the difficulties of the worker in making his claim; the possibility of pressure being put on him to take up work before he is fit; the high cost of litigation; the doubt which exists that compensation will in all circumstances be paid; the difficulty of demarcation between cases; and the fact that since the whole cost is borne by the Employer there is a tendency for the T.U.C. and the Trade Unions to demand constantly increasing scales of benefit. 200/B/3/2/C216/5/93
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