§ Mr. BECKI wish to ask the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the following question of which I have given him private notice: What is the earliest date on which an insured person can become entitled to maternity benefit under the Insurance Act; and can notice of the illness of an insured person be given before the 13th January, and if so, what will be the earliest date on which such insured person, if still ill, can become entitled to sickness benefit?
§ Mr. MASTERMANNotice of illness of an insured person can be given before the 13th January. If he is ill on Thursday, 9th January, or is taken ill before doing any effective work on Friday, 10th January, he will be entitled to sickness benefit (if he continues to be incapable of work) as from Monday, 13th January, provided that he has at the latter date been in insurance for twenty-six weeks, and twenty-six full contributions have been paid in respect of him. An employed contributor is entitled to maternity benefit in respect of a child born after twelve midnight on Sunday, 12th January, if he has been in insurance twenty-six weeks, and if twenty-six full contributions have been paid.