§ Mr. CASSELasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether a Post Office contributor who has a balance to his credit in his own name will, in case of illness after attaining the age of seventy years, be entitled to draw upon that balance for sickness or disablement benefit; and, if not, whether he will introduce legislation to amend the National Insurance Act, 1911, in this respect?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe answer to both parts of the question is in the negative. Such contributors will, if otherwise eligible, be then in receipt of old age pensions. They will continue to be entitled, after seventy, to draw upon their balance for medical benefit, and four-sevenths of any sums standing to the contributor's credit at death may be bequeathed to their nominees. The effect of such an amendment as the hon. Member proposes would be to deprive contributors during the following years of medical attendance and medicines, which they will need more than sickness or disablement allowance additional to their pensions.
§ Mr. CASSELDoes not the hon. Gentleman consider that it would be reasonable if a Post Office contributor over seventy years of age is sick he should be 35 able to draw upon the fund standing in his name, four-sevenths of which represents his own contributions?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI have already said it is more important for him that he should continue to have money for his medical benefit, but it is extremely unlikely that there will be any deposit contributors of the age of seventy.
Mr. WORTHINGTON-EVANSSuppose there is not enough money at seventy for more than one year's medical benefit, what happens during the next year?
§ Mr. MASTERMANIf the money is exhausted there is nothing to draw from.
§ Mr. CHIOZZA MONEYIn view of the fact that the Post Office contributors come to an end automatically in 1914, are not these questions purely academic?
§ Mr. CASSELasked when a member of an approved society attains the age of seventy, and ceases to pay contributions, will the society still be liable to make the same payments or any payments in respect of such member to the insurance committee to provide medical benefits; if not, from what source will the doctor and chemist be paid for medical benefit for such member?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe payments made by an approved society to an insurance committee for medical benefit will be made on account of all the members of a society and not of any particular member. They will be paid out of the funds of the society as built up by the contributions made in respect of all the members and the reserves accumulated in respect of them.