§ It shall be lawful for an approved society to grant such subscriptions or donations as it may think fit to hospitals and other charitable institutions, or for the support of district nurses, and to appoint nurses for the purpose of visiting insured persons who are members of the society, and any sums so expended shall be treated as expenditure on such benefits under this part of this Act as may be prescribed.
§ Amendments made:
§ After the word "society" ["approved society to grant such subscriptions"], insert the words "or local health committee."
§ After the word "visiting" ["purpose of visiting insured persons"], insert the words "and nursing."
§ Leave out the words "who are members of the society."—[Mr. McKenna.]
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Clause, as amended, stand part of the Bill."
§ Mr. CASSELWhat do the words "treated as expenditure on such benefits under this part of this Act as may be prescribed" mean? How do those words 734 work out in practice? Assuming that a society or a local health committee make a donation to a hospital, what effect have those words? It could not be treated as expenditure on sick benefit or disablement benefit. What is the importance of putting in those words? Does it mean that something is going to be deducted from the maternity benefit, the medical benefit or the sanatorium benefit? Unless it is deducted from the benefit I do not see what the effect of the words is.
§ Sir RUFUS ISAACSIt will be expenditure for these benefits, but we must see what they are.
§ Question, "That the Clause, as amended, stand part of the Bill," put, and agreed to.