HC Deb 01 May 1934 vol 289 cc154-6
78. Mr. MANDER

asked the Minister of Health whether any decision has been authorised disentitling from sickness benefit an insured woman unable to follow her usual occupation owing to ill-health if she attends to her normal unpaid household duties provided the state of her health permits this?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of HEALTH (Mr. Shakespeare)

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a similar question asked by the hon. Member for Wigan (Mr. Parkinson) on the 26th March last, of which I am sending him a copy.

Mr. MANDER

Do I understand that there is no reason why a woman in the circumstances stated should not carry on with her ordinary household duties?

Mr. SHAKESPEARE

If a woman is receiving benefit and at the same time performing a whole-time household task for which ordinarily a wage is payable, it is difficult to substantiate a claim that she is incapable of her ordinary work and entitled to draw benefit.

Mr. MANDER

But if no wage would be payable for it if she was not there, and if her health permitted her to do that work although she was not well enough to do her ordinary work, would she not be entitled to do it?

Mr. SHAKESPEARE

Yes, provided it was not a full day's work for which she would engage a help.

79. Mr. BATEY

asked the Minister of Health whether he will introduce legislation to amend the National Health Insurance Act, 1932, so as to restore medical benefit and old age pension benefit at 65 years of age to unemployed workmen?

Mr. SHAKESPEARE

This matter was fully debated during the passage of the National Health Insurance Act, 1932, and again in November last, and nothing has since transpired to call for the reopening of the question. I would, moreover, point out that the position under the Contributory Pensions Acts of the insured person who has suffered from prolonged unemployment is fully safeguarded up to the end of 1935.

Mr. TINKER

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware of the severe hardships imposed on these classes of men, who are to all intents and purposes derelict, and ought not we to do something for them on the lines of restoring the economy cuts?

Mr. BATEY

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that this question was put down to the Prime Minister, as, in view of the Budget surplus which has been achieved since the subject was discussed in 1932, I want to know whether the Government will reconsider this matter with a view to righting this wrong to so many of the unemployed?

Mr. SHAKESPEARE

The Budget surplus has nothing to do with making national health insurance non-contributory.

Mr. BATEY

May I ask the Prime Minister to give personal attention to this matter? I give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible opportunity.

80. Mr. THORNE

asked the Minister of Health if he has received a Report from his inspector relative to a printer and a builder who appeared at the Tottenham police court and were fined for the non-payment of health and unemployment insurance contributions in respect of their employés; and whether these employés will lose any benefit rights through the default of their employers?

Mr. SHAKESPEARE

The inspector has reported the conviction of the employers concerned, who were also ordered by the court to pay the arrears of contributions. Pending compliance with the magistrate's orders, it is not possible to state whether the benefits of any of the employés will be prejudiced, but in any case if any health insurance benefits should be lost through the employer's default, the employés have a statutory right to recover from the employers the amount of any benefit so lost. Any question as to unemployment benefit is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour.

81. Mr. THORNE

asked the Minister of Health if he has received a report from his inspector in connection with the application for 176 summonses against an East London builder for offences under the National Health and Unemployment Insurance Acts; and what action he is taking in the matter?

Mr. SHAKESPEARE

The inspector has reported that the summonses have been issued for hearing at an early date. As the matter is therefore sub judice, my right hon. Friend cannot properly make any statement as to the further action to be taken.