§ 5. Sir PHILIP MAGNUSasked whether, for the purposes of the National Insurance Act, he will define what is meant by "whole-time service, "whether a person having an income of say £300 a year, who accepts a position as secretary, the hours of service being from ten to four, at a salary of £150 a year, is compelled to insure; and whether, in that case, a medical practitioner, having agreed to take service under the Act, is required regularly to attend such person when ill for the sum of 7s. a year?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe question of the correct interpretation of "whole-time service" in paragraph (g) of Part II. of the First Schedule of the Act rests primarily in any specific case with the Commission acting judicially and upon consideration of evidence. Any person or his employer may apply for a formal decision of the Insurance Commissioners under Section 66 of the Act upon this point, and it would be impossible to give an answer in the case referred to by the hon. Member with any certainty except on a fuller statement of the facts than is possible within the limits of a reply to a question.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEWill the right hon. Gentleman say whether he is in a position to announce to the House that the Chancellor of the Exchequer will be able to promise any medical benefit under the Act?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThis question has nothing whatever to do with medical benefit.
Mr. WORTHINGTON-EVANSWill the right hon. Gentleman say whether, if the person named in the question was in fact an insured person, he would be entitled to medical treatment in the circumstances?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI could not say that.
Mr. WORTHINGTON-EVANSWill the right hon. Gentleman answer the second part of the question on the Paper?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI cannot without knowing the circumstances as to the first part of the question.