Industrial Deafness Benefit Rules (No.2)

EDM number 1194 in 1989-90, proposed by John Evans on 27/06/1990.

That this House is disgusted that the Government is again legislating retrospectively; is extremely disturbed that the Government has time and again overridden court rulings that it is acting illegally by legislating retrospectively; believes that this device when used to perpetuate injustice is a scurrilous misuse of parliamentary power; notes that on this occasion, retrospective legislation via the Social Security Bill will reinstate the five-year rule on claims for industrial deafness benefit following the ruling of the Law Lords in October 1989 which stated that the application of the five-year rule as limited by Regulation 25(2) of the 1985 regulations was ultra vires and therefore illegal; that people enabled to re-apply for pensions under this ruling have not been contacted because of the Secretary of State for Social Security's deep opposition; questions the purpose of the Appeal Court if the Government is selective in accepting its judgements; notes that thousands of individuals with industrially-induced hearing disabilities will be left uncompensated; and believes that it is time that all individuals with hearing disabilities caused by their employment be adequately compensated.

This motion has been signed by a total of 60 MPs.