§ (1) In the case of insured persons who are under the ago of twenty-one years and unmarried, sickness benefit and disablement benefit shall be at the reduced rates specified in Table B. in Part I. of the Fourth Schedule to this Act:
§ Provided that where any such person, being over the age of sixteen and a member of an approved society, proves that one or more members of his family are wholly or mainly dependent upon him, the society shall dispense with such reduction.
§ (2) The rates of sickness and disablement benefits provided under this Act may in any case, where the rate of sickness benefit or disablement benefit (as the case may be) exceeds two-thirds of the usual rate of wages or other remuneration earned by insured persons, be reduced to such an extent as the society or committee administering the benefit, with the consent of the Insurance Commissioners, determines; but where such reduction is made provision shall be made by the society or committee, with the like consent, for the grant of one or more additional benefits of a value equivalent to such reduction.
§ (3) Sickness benefit shall be reduced in accordance with Table C in Part I. of the 671 Fourth Schedule to this Act in the case of any insured person who becomes an employed contributor within one year after the commencement of this Act, and is at the date of so becoming an employed contributor over fifty years of age and has not at the date of any claim by him for such benefit paid at least five hundred weekly contributions.
§ (4) In the case of every person over the age of sixteen years who, not having been previously insured under this Part of this Act, becomes an employed contributor subsequently to the expiration of one year from the commencement of this Act, the rate of sickness benefit to which he is entitled shall (unless he proves that his time since be attained the age of sixteen has been spent in a school or college, in indentured apprenticeship or otherwise under instruction without wages, or otherwise in the completion of his education, or unless he undertakes himself to pay the difference between the voluntary rate and the employed rate, or pays to the Insurance Commissioners, to be credited to the society, such capital sum as will be sufficient to secure him benefits at the full rate) be such reduced rate as may be fixed in accordance with tables to be prepared by the Insurance Commissioners, but not in any case less than five shillings a week for sickness benefit:
§ Provided that if at any time subsequently such person would become entitled to sickness benefit at a higher rate if he were treated as having become an employed contributor as from the time when he attained the age of sixteen, or as from the expiration of one year after the commencement of this Act, whichever date may be the later, and as being in arrear for all contributions which, had he become an employed contributor at that date, would have been payable in respect of him between that date and the date when he actually became an employed contributor he shall if he so elects be entitled to be so treated.
§ Amendments made: In Sub-section (1), leave out the words "over the age of sixteen and."
§ In Sub-section (2), leave out the words "the rates of sickness and disablement benefits provided under this Act may in any case."
§ After the word "where" ["where the rate"], insert the words "in the case of any insured persons."
672§ Leave out the words "insured persons" ["earned by insured persons"] and insert instead thereof "such persons the rate of such benefits shall."
§ In Sub-section (3), at the beginning, insert the words "The rate of."
§ Leave out the words "Over fifty years of age," and insert instead thereof the words "of the age of fifty years or upwards."
§ Leave out the words "has not" ["has not at that date"], and insert instead thereof the words "the number of weekly contributions paid by or in respect of him is."
§ Leave out the words "paid at least," and insert instead thereof the words "less than."
§ Leave out the words "weekly contributions."
§ In Sub-section (4), leave out the words "for sickness benefit" ["five shillings a week for sickness benefit."]—[Mr. Lloyd George.]