asked the Minister of Social Security in how many cases her Department has appealed to the National Insurance Commissioner against a decision of the local tribunal made in favour of an applicant for industrial death benefit under the Industrial Injuries Act.

During 1967 there were 32 appeals by the insurance officer against awards of industrial death benefit made by local tribunals.

As there are so few cases, cannot the Ministry afford to be a little more generous to widows who have already won their appeals?

The Ministry is as generous as possible to widows, but I draw the attention of the Houe to the fact that we are here bound by independent procedures. The insurance officer acts as an independent person when making a reference of this kind, and if ultimately, as in this instance, a case goes to the Commissioner, he too, of course, is completely independent of the Ministry.