§ 23. Mr. TOUCHEasked the Secretary to the Treasury if he would recommend the Insurance Commissioners to make the provision for aged members compulsory on all friendly societies and the cost a first charge on the released reserves?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Masterman)The Commissioners have no power to prescribe the application of any part of any reserve funds of a registered friendly society which might be released by the operation of Section 72 of the National Insurance Act.
§ 25. Mr. TOUCHEasked the Secretary to the Treasury if he is yet in a position to make any statement with regard to the cases of four aged members of the Hearts of Oak Benefit Society, Central Islington Association and Medical Agency, District No. 183, particulars of which have been supplied to the London insurance committee in accordance with the Act and regulations, and were brought to his notice on 14th February; is he aware that three of these members have been without medical protection since 14th January, and that the benefit under Section 15 (2) (e) was urgently required, and is now eight weeks overdue; and can he say for how long this state of things is likely to continue?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI am informed that the London Insurance Committee have been in correspondence with the society in regard to the case, and on 28th February offered an alternative arrangement whereby the society should either negotiate with the doctor direct or make a payment to the committee, who would then undertake that the treatment should be given. To this communication the committee have received no reply.
§ 27. Mr. TOUCHEasked the Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that many friendly societies which have become approved societies are receiving applications from aged members for medical benefit under the provisions of Clause 15 (2) (e) of the National Insurance Act, and 395 complain that effective provision has not been made by the insurance committees to meet such cases; and will he explain why insurance committees have not yet adopted a system which secures attendance and treatment to these old members of the societies, and take such measures as may be in his power to prevent further delays?
§ Mr. MASTERMANEvery insurance committee has adopted arrangements whereby doctors on the panel are bound to give medical attendance and treatment to the persons referred to in the Hon. Member's question on the same terms as to remuneration as those arranged with respect to insured persons, if their society so desires.
§ 30. Mr. BUTCHERasked whether, in the case of a person insured under the National Insurance Act, who, upon or after attaining the age of sixty-five years, retires from his employment on pension or otherwise and ceases to pay further contributions under the Act, such persons will be entitled to sick or disablement benefits under the Act, and, if so, to what amount?
Mr. M ASTERMANOn permanently ceasing to be employed the person in question would cease to be insured, and would not be entitled to the benefits referred to.