§ 69. Mr. T. LEWISasked the Minister of Health if he is yet in a position to state what action, if any, it is proposed to take relative to persons whose insurance under the National Health Insurance Acts would normally cease at the end of the present year?
§ Mr. GREENWOODI regret that I am not yet in a position to add anything to my reply given on the 30th October to the hon. Members for Greenwich (Mr. Palmer) and Bothwell (Mr. Sullivan) on the same subject.
§ 72. Mr. McSHANEasked the Minister of Health on what grounds Mrs. Coleman, of 47, Marlow Street, Walsall, has been refused payment for her illness from 1928 up to 8th October, 1929, especially since the cause of her not having 104 contributions was the failure of her employer to stamp her card during that period?
§ Mr. GREENWOODI am informed that Mrs. Coleman received sickness benefit at the rate of 7s. 6d. weekly for 26 weeks commencing in May, 1928. As payment of 104 contributions was not completed until 8th October, 1929, she was, by a specific provision of the National Health Insurance Act, 1924, disentitled to further benefit for her illness before that date. If the failure of the employer to pay contributions during 1926 and 1927 had been reported at the time steps could have been taken to protect the insured person against any loss of benefit, but as she did not notify the default until May, 1929, it is now impossible to take action in the matter.
§ Mr. McSHANEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that since then her employer has died and that his executors have actually paid back, retrospectively, 1854 if I may use the word, these stamps, and yet the woman is not entitled to her proper benefit?
§ Mr. GREENWOODThat is perfectly true, and, as I have pointed out, had the matter been taken up within a reasonable period of time it could have been done, but it is impossible to reopen it a year afterwards.
§ Mr. McSHANEMay I ask why the Government have insisted on these contributions being paid by the executors, while the lady herself is denied this right?
§ Mr. GREENWOODIt is because of the Act of 1924.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODDoes not the Minister of Health see that the only fault here is that this woman did not understand the law?
§ Mr. GREENWOODI am very sorry, but a large number of people do not understand the law.
§ Mr. McSHANECannot the right hon. Gentleman promise that even now ' e will do something in this case?
§ Mr. GREENWOODI understand that I have no legal authority to intervene now.
§ 73. Dr. MORRIS-JONESasked' the Minister of Health whether he has now received the report of the committee appointed by him to inquire into the causes of alleged excessive claims for sickness and disablement benefits?
§ Mr. GREENWOODNo, Sir, the committee have not yet completed their investigations.
§ Dr. MORRIS-JONESWill the right hon. Gentleman circulate this report to the House when it is available?
§ Mr. GREENWOODI must see the report first. I see no reason why it should not be made public.
§ 77. Mr. EGANasked the Minister of Health if he will consider legislation to relieve the hardship caused by the lack of dependants' benefit when the insured person is in receipt of sickness benefit?
§ Mr. GREENWOODThe matter to which my hon. Friend refers has been included in the scope of the general survey 1855 of insurance and pensions legislation which is being made by a Committee of the Cabinet.
§ Sir K. WOODWhat is happening to that committee?
§ Mr. GREENWOODIt is going on quite successfully.
§ 91. Mr. JOHNasked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the provisions which kept unemployed persons in membership of approved societies are about to expire; and will he consider a further extension in this connection, especially in view of the fact that such persons and their dependants will not only be deprived of benefits under the National Health Insurance scheme but contributory old age and widows' pensions and orphans' allowances as well?
§ Mr. GREENWOODI would refer my hon. Friend to my reply given on 30th October to the hon. Member for Greenwich (Mr. Palmer) and Bothwell (Mr. Sullivan) on the same subject.
§ Mr. McSHANEWhen will my right hon. Friend be in a position to make a further statement?
§ Mr. GREENWOODI hope very shortly, but certainly in adequate time to deal with the problem before the real crisis arises?