77. Mr. WORTHINGTON-EVANSasked whether, in the case of an insured person without dependants having to pay 5s. a week for her maintenance in the Nelson Hospital during a time when she is otherwise qualified for sick benefit, the fact that she is in a hospital prevents her society paying her sick benefit, although the society has made no arrangement for any payment to the hospital?
§ Mr. MASTERMANUnder Section 12 of the National Insurance Act, the sickness 355 benefit is not payable directly to the insured person in the circumstances referred to in the question, but the sum which would ordinarily have been payable may be applied by the society in the provision of surgical appliances or otherwise for the benefit of the insured person.