§ 2. Mr. Woodasked the Minister of National Insurance why her regulations do not allow a man, who cannot, because of sickness, qualify with 156 contributions for sickness benefit and other benefits, to pay Class I or Class II contributions during incapacity in order to qualify for such benefits; and what steps she proposes to take to remove this handicap.
§ Dr. SummerskillI do not think it would be consistent with the principles of the insurance scheme to allow people to pay qualifying contributions after the contingency assured against had arisen.
§ Mr. WoodDo I gather from the right hon. Lady's reply that she sees no end to this vicious circle, either in the present or in the future, by which a man cannot pay contributions and therefore cannot get back to work?
§ Dr. SummerskillI think that the hon. Gentleman is under a misapprehension. A man who has paid 26 contributions qualifies for sickness benefit, and that covers him for the year.