§ 16. Mr. JOHNSTONasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to the claim to a widow's pension made by Mrs. Flora McKinnon, of Pernechorran, The Braes, Portree; whether he is aware that her late husband was a member of the Seamen's National Insurance Society, and paid insurance contributions regularly from 1912 to 1917, and irregularly thereafter owing to illness until July, 1923; that this woman has six in family, the eldest being 10 years of age, dependent
§ Following is the reply:
§ The prices paid by the Board and charged to the holders were as follow:
§ on her; and if he can say what is the reason for the delay in making a decision in this case?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThe facts of this case are substantially as stated by the hon. Member. Notice of the decision of the Scottish Board of Health was issued on the 9th instant. The claim was disallowed on the ground that it had not been established that the statutory minimum of 104 contributions under the National Health Insurance Act had been paid in respect of the husband from the date of his last entry into insurance in June, 1920, to the date of death in February last. Mrs. McKinnon has been informed of her statutory right of appeal to an independent referee, which must be exercised within one month of the date of the Board's decision. With regard to the time taken in disposing of this claim, I may say that owing to the inability of Mrs. McKinnon to furnish full information regarding her husband's occupational and insurance history, investigation by the Board was necessary not only locally, but also in Glasgow, and, in addition, the inquiries entailed correspondence with three different approved societies.