§ 38. Mr. WHITELEYasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that ex-service men in receipt of a pension and receiving training at Government instructional factories are being paid National Health Insurance benefit by some societies and are being refused by others; and whether he will issue general instructions to the societies on the matter?
§ Mr. WHEATLEYThe fact that an ex-service man in receipt of a pension is undergoing a course of training at a Government instructional factory does not in itself afford any evidence that he is entitled to receive sickness or disablement benefit under the National Health Insurance Acts. The condition for the payment of these benefits is that the insured I person should be rendered incapable of 2188 work by some specific disease or bodily or mental disablement, and it rests with the approved society of which any individual trainee is a member to decide whether or not this condition is satisfied in his case during any period in respect of which benefit is claimed. A member who is dissatisfied with his society's decision has a right of appeal in accordance with the procedure laid down in the rules of the society. An official Circular explaining the position has already been sent to all approved societies.