§ 6. Mr. JOWETTasked if married men in the Navy are required to give three months' notice of the approximate date of the expected confinement of their wives in order to comply with the rules governing the payment of maternity benefit under the National Insurance Act, 1911?
Mr. LAMBERTThe provision referred to by my hon. Friend was made not as an essential condition of payment, but solely in the interests of the men and their wives as being, under the exceptional conditions of naval service, the only means of ensuring payment of the benefit immediately after the confinement takes place. The advantages of this procedure have already been proved in several cases. When it is not possible to give the full amount of notice the claim is in no way prejudiced thereby.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEWill the right hon. Gentleman consider the question of payment to the wives of seamen?