§ 58. Mr. CURRIEasked the Comptroller of the Household, as representing the National Health Insurance Commissioners, whether his attention has been drawn to the difficulty arising out of the issue of his Departmental Circular 242X, dated June, 1918, which will result in numbers of insured persons losing medical benefit by reason of their earnings now exceeding £160 a year; whether he will, by legislation or otherwise, take steps to prevent this result, in view of the fact that £160 now is of less value than £100 when the 1911 Act was passed; and whether meantime he will suspend or modify the said Circular?
§ Sir EDWIN CORNWALL (Comptroller of the Household)In view of the numerous inquiries received as to the position in insurance of non-manual workers in receipt of war bonuses or other increases in wages, bringing their rate of remuneration over £160 a year, the Commissioners felt that the question could not any longer be left in uncertainty, and the Circular to which my hon. Friend refers set out what the Commissioners are advised to be the legal position in such cases. The difficulty, of which I am fully aware, arises not from the Circular, but from the general increase in wages. There is no intention at present of introducing amending legislation on the subject.