§ 59. Mr. BRIANTasked the Minister of Health if, in considering the distribution of surpluses of approved health societies, he will take into account the necessity of the provision of sufficient convalescent homes and the granting of full maintenance allowances for the families dependent on the sick persons, so as to ensure that the patients take full advantage of convalescent treatment till full recovery is reached?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINIt rests with each approved society having a disposable surplus on valuation to decide what additional benefits are to be provided for its members out of that surplus. Among such benefits are included the provision and maintenance of premises suitable for convalescent homes, and the payment of the whole or part of the cost of maintenance and treatment of members in convalescent homes, the latter of which is one of the most widely adopted benefits. I am satisfied that societies generally are fully alive to the advantages of convalescent home treatment. There is no provision in the Act for the payment of maintenance allowances for the dependants of sick persons, but while an insured person is being maintained in a convalescent home, he would ordinarily be entitled also to sickness or disablement benefit, which would be available towards the cost of the maintenance of his dependants.