HC Deb 22 May 1911 vol 26 cc99-100W
Mr. JAMES PARKER

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the term disablement in Section 13 of the Insurance Bill includes isolation for small-pox; and, if so, whether insured persons could be deprived of benefit under the Bill if the societies made regulations insisting on the vaccination of such persons?

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

A person isolated for small-pox in a hospital provided by a public authority is not entitled to disablement benefit, as it is not consistent with the scheme of the Bill to make provision for persons otherwise provided for. If, however, he had dependants they would be entitled to the benefit. There is nothing to prevent a society from making a rule of the sort mentioned, or to compel a person to join such a society.

Mr. LEES SMITH

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, under the provisions of the National Insurance Bill, the sums to be deducted from the wages of an employed contributor who is already a member of an approved friendly society are to me remitted to the friendly society in part payment of the member's present contribution, or whether it is intended that the money shall be invested by the National Debt Commissioners and credit only given to the approved society for the amounts deducted from the employed contributor's wages?

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

Subject to Sub-clause (3) of Clause 40, the amounts deducted from an employed contributor's wages, together with his employer's contribution, will be credited to his society. Section 55 practically empowers a society which already gives benefits similar to those to be conferred by the Bill to substitute the benefits under the Bill for the existing benefits, and the contributions under the Bill for the existing contributions, and to apply the accumulated funds set free for the benefits of its members.