§ 55. Mr. Parkerasked the Minister of Health whether he proposes to use the National Health Insurance funds to give increased benefits to those disabled by incurable illness?
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health (Mr. Bernays)Provision is already made under the scheme of National Health Insurance for persons who were insured under the Acts at the time when they became disabled. Such persons, as soon as they have paid 104 weekly contributions, become entitled to disablement benefit up to the age of 65, and thereafter to an old age pension for the rest of life. Any approved society which has a disposable surplus on valuation may apply part of it to increasing the standard rate of disablement benefit, and societies covering a high percentage of the whole insured population have in fact done so.