§ 3. Dr. D. Johnsonasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he is aware that if a person charged in court accepts a recommendation to enter a mental hospital as a voluntary patient he is entitled to receive National Insurance sickness benefit, but if he refuses this and is committed as a certified patient he is not entitled to draw such benefit; and whether he will take steps to rectify this anomaly.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI am aware that the application of the provisions of the National Insurance Act to mental patients has given rise to certain problems of which this is one, affecting contributions as well as benefit. I am now considering these matters in the light of the Report of the Royal Commission on Mental Health and of the new procedures recommended in court cases.
§ Dr. JohnsonMay I thank my right hon. Friend for his reply to this Question?