§ 27. Mr. TOUCHEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his attention has been called to the case of an insured person in Upper Holloway, who was taken ill with pneumonia on 2nd December, 1912, and has since suffered from pleurisy, and who sent a claim for sick benefit to the approved society of which he is a member and received 15s., being ten days' payment from 13th to 22nd January, inclusive, but nothing further; is he aware that, since making the first claim, he has sent in three weekly medical certificates and forms of continued sickness, dated, respectively, 20th January, 27th January, and 3rd February, and has received no additional payment or any communication from the society to whose secretary he wrote, and has been obliged to apply to the guardians for assistance; that his health has suffered from the worry, inconvenience, and delay; and can he take any steps to secure a better administration of the system so as to safeguard sick persons from hardships, anxiety, and the deprivation of necessaries conducive to the restoration of health and strength, and prevent the growth of a lack of confidence in the smooth working of the Act?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe question of the payment of sickness benefit to a member of an approved society is one between himself and the society, subject to appeal to the Commissioners. The Commissioners are forwarding the hon. Member's question to the society.
§ Mr. TOUCHEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that by the time the case has been reached the man may be either dead or in the workhouse?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI should think that if this society is self-governing in character, and it is doing its work badly, no doubt. the members who have complete control over the society will see that the work is done well.