Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware of the fact that there is nothing in Section 12 of the National Insurance Act which discriminates between benefits accruing in respect of a single event and benefits accruing in respect of periods of time; and if he will state on what grounds the Insurance Commissioners advise approved societies that they must not pay to an insured person after he has left hospital sickness benefit which, under Section 12, was not paid to him during the period he was in hospital, and which has not been paid either to his dependants or to the hospital authorities?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe grounds for the advice referred to are stated in the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Salisbury on Seth June. The distinction between maternity and sickness benefits referred to in the first part of the question is a fundamental distinction in the character of the two benefits as determined by Section 8 of the Act, and, as I have stated, the Commissioners are advised that it affects 422W the interpretation of Section 12. Societies have a wide discretion in using any sums which under Section 12 cannot be paid as sickness benefit and have not been paid to the hospital or to' dependants, for the benefit of the insured person himself.