THE INJURED WORKMAN
Sta,—Your correspondent, Dr. Paul Roth, takes you to task for giving an unqualified welcome to the Government's proposals regarding industrial injury and disease. He complains that the rates of benefit are inadequate, and is clearly under the impression that a permanently paralysed workman needing skilled nursing and attention for the rest of his days would, if married with one child, receive a pension of 57s. 6d. He completely ignores the special supplement of los. weekly given to persons virtually unemployable, and also the allowance for " constant attendance " of up to zos. weekly where such attendance is necessary.
These amounts would be payable to anyone receiving private medical treatment or entering a private nursing home. In the case of the workman mentioned by Dr. Roth, however, it is more probable that he would be cared for under the provisions of the new National Health Service, the proposals for which your correspondent ignores. Under this Service the necessary hospital and medical provision would be free, and the patient would receive his pension of 57s. 6d.
We arc most anxious to receive and consider constructive criticisms of the new proposals. But critics would do well to read either the White Paper, or the Government's " Brief Guide " to its contents, before com- mitting themselves to print.—Yours faithfully, G. GRIFFITH,
Home Office, Whitehall, S.W. r. Public Relations Officer.
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