HC Deb 26 June 1939 vol 349 c29
61. Mr. Parker

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that Mr. Mills of Warwick House, Stanley Road, Horn- church, became ill and had to meet a doctor's and sanatorium's fees while on holiday this May in Guernsey; that although he and his employer continued their donations to National Health Insurance during this period, he was refused any benefit on the ground that National Health Insurance did not apply to the Channel Islands; and whether the Government will revise the Act to meet the needs of British residents temporarily out of the country?

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health (Mr. Bernays)

The case to which the hon. Member refers had not previously been brought to the notice of my right hon. Friend. Under a specific provision of the Insurance Act an insured person is not disentitled to sickness, disablement or maternity benefit while he is temporarily resident in the Channel Islands, and if Mr. Mills was unable to obtain sickness benefit while he was in Guernsey I shall be glad to have inquiries made. My right hon. Friend could not undertake, however, to make arrangements for providing medical benefit to insured persons when they are outside this country, although if a scheme of National Health Insurance were established in the Channel Islands reciprocal arrangements could be made whereby persons insured in the United Kingdom who went to those islands could receive medical benefit under the island scheme.