§ 54. Sir BASIL PETOasked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the case of Mrs. Truscott, widow of Charles Henry Truscott, whose last employment was as second officer in the Steamship "Portsea," of Hull, and who had regularly paid contributions for insurance for health, pension, and unemployment for many years before his death in October, 1929; whether he is aware that Mrs. Truscott has been refused a widow's pension on the ground that Mr. Truscott was improperly insured because, on calculations made since his death, it is considered that his total remuneration in cash, food, accommodation, and allowances slightly exceeded the statutory limit of £250; and whether, under these circumstances, he will have the contributions, which were accepted in error and 1637 for which his widow gets no benefit, refunded to her, and, in similar cases in future relating to officers of the mercantile marine, he will see that, in the case where pension is not paid, the contributions shall be refunded to the widow?
§ Mr. E. BROWNThe late Mr. Truscott, who had paid contributions since January, 1926, was found to have been insured in error, as stated in the second part of the question, and his widow's claim for pension has recently been rejected by the referees on appeal. In cases of this kind the practice is to refund the health and pensions contributions, except in so far as they have already been used in providing the contributor with health insurance benefits, and Mrs. Truscott's case is being dealt with on those lines.