97Accidents in course of illegal employments
(1)Subsection (2) below has effect in any case where—
(a)a claim is made for industrial injuries benefit in respect of an accident, or of a prescribed disease or injury; or
(b)an application is made under section 44 of the Administration Act for a declaration that an accident was an industrial accident, or for a corresponding declaration as to a prescribed disease or injury.
(2)The Secretary of State may direct that the relevant employment shall, in relation to that accident, disease or injury, be treated as having been employed earner’s employment notwithstanding that by reason of a contravention of, or non-compliance with, some provision contained in or having effect under an enactment passed for the protection of employed persons or any class of employed persons, either—
(a)the contract purporting to govern the employment was void; or
(b)the employed person was not lawfully employed in the relevant employment at the time when, or in the place where, the accident happened or the disease or injury was contracted or received.
(3)In subsection (2) above “relevant employment” means—
(a)in relation to an accident, the employment out of and in the course of which the accident arises; and
(b)in relation to a prescribed disease or injury, the employment to the nature of which the disease or injury is due.