HC Deb 04 June 1951 vol 488 c658
1. Mr. Russell

asked the Minister of National Insurance if she will ask the National Insurance Advisory Committee, which is now reviewing the time limits for claiming insurance benefits, to include in their survey the operation of Regulation 18 of Statutory Instrument, 1948, No. 1417, which deals with the refund of contributions paid in error.

The Minister of National Insurance (Dr. Edith Summerskill)

I do not think I can ask the Committee to extend the scope of their investigations to include this entirely fresh topic at this stage I am, however, keeping a close watch on the operation of this Regulation and if the hon. Member has in mind any case affected by the time limit perhaps he will let me have particulars.

Mr. Russell

Would the right hon. Lady bear in mind that no private firm which had overcharged a contributor in this way would possibly fail to pay back the contributions? Would she not look into this again? May I send her a case of which her Department has already had notice?

Dr. Summerskill

I shall be only too happy to consider any case which the hon. Gentleman has, but there is no substantial evidence that the two years' time limit is regarded as unreasonable.

Captain Duncan

When will the Committee report?

Dr. Summerskill

That is another question, which is not to do with this time limit.