54. Mr. WORTHINGTON-EVANSasked whether, if an insured person becomes entitled to sick benefit in September and again in February of the following year, sick benefit is payable from the first day or the fourth day on the second occasion, having regard to the fact that the financial year closes on the 15th January, and to the fact that such a second illness is deemed to be a continuation of the first?
Mr. BENNIn the circumstances stated benefit is payable from the first day. Under Section 8 (5) of the Act of 1911 a second illness is deemed to be a continuation of a previous illness in respect of which benefit has been paid unless a period of twelve months has elapsed between the two illnesses. The fact that the second illness does not occur in the same financial year as the first does not affect the question.
§ 65. Mr. GODFREY LOCKER-LAMPSONasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he has received any report from the West Hartlepool Insurance Committee as to a statement of a member at a meeting of the committee on 21st January, 1914, that the sickness claims on his society were excessive, especially in the women's 1760 section; and whether the Government have evidence to show that the women's sections of approved societies in that district are in danger of showing deficiencies at the first Valuation?
Mr. BENNThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. With regard to the second part of the question, I may refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave him to a similar question on the 18th instant.
§ Mr. G. LOCKER-LAMPSONWill the hon. Member inquire as to whether there-have been any excessive claims on this. society?
§ 68. Mr. G. LOCKER-LAMPSONasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether his-attention has been called to the case of Charles Day, of 54, Bell Street, Edgware-Road, N.W., a member of the London. Thrift Approved Society, of 134, Ladywell Road, Lewisham, S.E., who entered the Marylebone Poor Law Infirmary on the 12th January last, remaining there three weeks, and who is unable to get sick pay from his approved society because the society will pay only on the production of the doctor's certificate and the infirmary doctor and authorities refuse to give one; and whether any pressure can be brought to bear either upon the approved society or the infirmary officials so that this man may obtain his rights?
§ The PRESIDENT of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Herbert Samuel)My hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. My attention had not been previously drawn to this case. It is the duty of the medical officer of the infirmary, under the Local Government Board's Regulations, to give a certificate to the person on whom he is attending of the sickness of such person or the cause of his attendance on him, and I am calling the attention of the guardians to this requirement.
§ 70 and 71. Mr. ASTORasked the Secretary to the Treasury (1) what the total sum is which has been paid in sickness. benefit to male insured persons up to 1st January, 1914; and if he will state what the total sum was which the Government actuaries estimated would be required for this benefit for these persons up to the date mentioned; and (2) what is the total sum 1761 which has been paid in sickness benefit to female insured persons up to 1st January, 1914; and if he will state what the total sum was which the Government actuaries estimated would be required for this benefit for these persons up to the date mentioned?
Mr. BENNThe information asked for in the first half of the questions is not yet available. The sums spent in sickness benefit for the twelve months ending 11th January, 1914, will only be reliably ascertained when the accounts of the expenditure of all the approved societies and branches in the United Kingdom have been made up and audited. The figures asked for in the second part of the questions are:—
- £4,200,000 for men,
- £1,250,000 for women.
§ 72. Mr. CASSELasked whether, under the Regulations issued by the National Insurance Joint Committee, any person entering insurance after the 13th October, 1913, who is over thirty years of age at the time of entry, will only receive 5s. a week sickness benefit in lieu of the 10s. provided for under the National Insurance Act, even though it may not be due to any fault of his that he joined after the 13th October, 1913?
Mr. BENNThe Regulations referred to merely give effect to the provisions of Section 9 (4) of the Act of 1911, as amended by Section 2 (1) of the Act of 1913.