§ 65. Mr. GEORGE ROBERTSasked the President of the Local Government Board if he has observed the case reported to the Wayland guardians on 19th May by the relieving officer for the Attleborough district, in which it was alleged that a man, who is an insured member of the Prudential Approved Society, on becoming ill, had his sickness benefit withheld after the first week because he was 17s. in arrears on his life policy, and his sick pay was to be taken to pay up these arrears, and thereby the man was compelled to seek and was granted Poor Law relief; whether he has considered the action of the Prudential Society, in view of the provisions of the National Insurance Act; whether the man in question is liable to disfranchisement through being a recipient of Poor Law relief; and, if so, whether any and what steps can be taken to prevent his being thus disqualified in such unjust circumstances?
§ The PRESIDENT of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Burns)The first part of the question relates to a matter with which my Department is not concerned. In regard to the last part, I may state that the receipt of Poor Law relief, other than medical or surgical assistance or medicine, constitutes a disqualification for being registered as an elector. No means are available for avoiding the disqualification.