§ 8. Mr. W. Baxterasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what proposals he has for amending the regulations relating to persons who are off work through illness and who, due to these regulations, lose the first three days of benefit, because they are off for a period of less than 14 days.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterNone, Sir.
§ Mr. BaxterIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that pursuance of this policy appears to be "penny wise and pound foolish", inasmuch as many people who have slight illnesses stay away from work for the whole fourteen days merely in order to get the benefit of the three days' waiting time? As that is not in the national interests, would it not be wise if the Minister reconsidered his policy?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThe hon. Member will know that there have been waiting days in respect of sickness benefit since National Insurance began. Indeed, before 1948 they were absolute, whatever the ultimate period of sickness. I am bound to say that nowadays, when more and more good employers make up wages for considerable periods of sickness, the case for doing away with waiting days is weaker than it ever was.