HC Deb 26 February 1914 vol 58 cc1939-41
53. Mr. GODFREYLOCKER-LAMPSON

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has now been drawn to the statement in paragraph 11, page 171, of the Report of a sub-committee of the West Ham Insurance Committee that out of ninety-five tuberculous persons receiving domiciliary treatment in their area at the end of 1913, no less than thirty-seven were sleeping in the same rooms as other persons; and what the Government propose to do in the matter?

Mr. BENN

It is the duty of the committee to arrange for the provision of treatment for tuberculous insured persons recommended for sanatorium benefit, and for their receiving all necessary instructions and advice as to the conduct and habits conducive to recovery, but they have no means of enforcing those instructions in such cases as those referred to in the question except by making their observance a condition of the receipt of treatment, which would in many cases deprive the insured person, for causes beyond his control, of all the benefits of treatment.

Mr. WORTHINGTON-EVANS

May I ask the hon. Gentleman whether in those cases where insured persons cannot be properly treated in their own rooms it would not be better to treat them in a sanatorium?

Mr. BENN

That may be so, but it is a matter for the insurance committee to say what the treatment shall be in each case.

Mr. WORTHINGTON-EVANS

Could not the Commissioners advise the committees on the subject?

Mr. RUPERT GWYNNE

Have not the Commissioners the right to dictate to the committees if they do not carry out their duties under the Act to their satisfaction?

Mr. BENN

The insurance committees are authorised to deal with cases of tuberculosis, and they may recommend the treatment which they consider necessary in each case.

Mr. R. GWYNNE

Have the Commissioners not control over the committee?

Mr. BENN

They have got the control which is authorised by the Act.

60. Mr. GOLDSMITH

asked whether it is in accordance with the rules of societies approved by the Insurance Com- missioners that an insured person suddenly taken so ill that he was helpless should be deprived of sick benefit during the time he was physically unable to give notice of his illness to his society, and until he regained consciousness some ten days later?

Mr. BENN

The ordinary rule of approved societies on the point referred to is that notice should be sent "as soon as possible." If the hon. Member will give me particulars of any case within his knowledge in which benefit has been refused in the circumstances described in his question, the Commissioners will at once communicate with the society.

55. Mr. GODFREYLOCKER-LAMPSON

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to complaints of friendly societies that the Registrar of Friendly Societies is insisting that, in the schemes sanctioned under Section 72 of the National Insurance Act, the societies shall pay full sickness benefit as before to members in cases of accident, although those members are actually paying to the non-State section of the societies 4d. per week less than formerly?

The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Montagu)

Yes, Sir; the question is one of the interpretations of Section 72 of the Insurance Act, about which I understand the friendly societies to which the hon. Member refers are taking legal advice.