64. Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTasked whether an unmarried mother who goes to a hospital for her confinement and who has to pay a fee for admission to the hospital can have the amount of that fee refunded to her out of the maternity benefit?
§ Mr. MASTERMANYes, Sir. If the sum that would have been due as maternity benefit had the woman not entered a hospital is not applied for the relief or maintenance of the woman's dependants, or paid direct to the hospital under an agreement previously concluded to pay for her treatment, it is payable to the woman herself when she leaves the hospital, either in kind or in instalments, or in a lump sum as the society may determine, and such money may be available for repayment of the fee for admission.
74. Mr. F. HALLasked if in the case of maternity benefit, if both parents are insured persons, 60s. is paid for each child born?
§ Mr. MASTERMANIf both parents are insured persons 30s. is, under the ordinary conditions, payable as maternity benefit in respect of the husband's insurance, while his wife is ordinarily entitled to sickness benefit at the rate of 7s. 6d. a week from the fourth day of being rendered incapable of work.
Mr. F. HALLIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the official candidate at the Newmarket election stated that in such cases 60s. would be paid? Did the right hon. Gentleman take the necessary steps to have that statement corrected before the day of polling?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI did not see the statement. I should think that it generally expressed what is true. As in ordinary cases the woman would be entitled to such benefit for weeks before she goes back to work, and in that case 60s. would be paid.
Mr. WORTHINGTON-EVANSIs it not the fact that if the contribution is in arrear, the benefit may be reduced from 7s. 6d. to 5s.?
§ Mr. MASTERMANNo one could be in arrear for a sufficient period at the present time.