§ 39. Colonel H. W. BURTON forasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that married men who have regularly contributed to the National Health Insurance Fund during their employment, and who are now unable through ill-health to follow their employment, are receiving allowances to maintain themselves, their wives and their children which, in amount, is less than would be paid to their widows and children under the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Bill; and whether, in view of the large surplus now standing to the credit of the National Health Insurance Fund, he will consider the possibility of formulating legislation or Regulations to enable more substantial allowances to be made in such cases?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe standard rate of disablement benefit payable under the National Health Insurance Act is, in a large proportion of cases, increased under schemes of additional benefits, but I am aware that the benefit will sometimes be lower than the allowance that will be payable to a widow with children under the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Bill. The questions of the rate of sickness and disablement benefits and of some family allowance where persons are in receipt 2415 of the benefits are engaging the attention of the Royal Commission on National Health Insurance, and I propose to await their findings.