§ Mr. COOPERasked whether in small towns and villages, where there may be no approved society that admits women members, it is intended that women shall be driven into the deposit contributors class, or will the Government introduce an Amendment to the Bill to ensure that every district shall be served by an approved society that admits women members.
§ Mr. WEDGWOOD BENNMy right hon. Friend does not anticipate the existence of any such difficulty as that indicated in the question. There is every reason to expect that not only existing friendly societies but also new societies will be eager to cover the whole of the great field opened to them by the National Health Insurance among women as well as among men. I may add that, owing to the relatively low sickness rate in country towns and villages, societies are likely to be especially desirous of gaining members, male and female, in those localities.