§ Mr. PAGETasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that Minnie Halls, a domestic servant and a member of the National Amalgamated Approved Society, after being treated by her panel doctor for a poisoned finger on the 11th July, and subsequently sent by him to Charing Cross Hospital, where it was found necessary to operate on her finger, was instructed by an official of the society to fill up an accident form though she expressly denied that any accident had occurred; whether he is aware that, in consequence of this attempt to bring the employer under the Workmen's Compensation Act, she was unable to obtain the sickness benefit to which she was entitled under the National Insurance Act till three months after she was incapacitated from work; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent officials using such pressure as was applied in this case and to relieve the insured persons from the hardships which are caused by prolonged delay in the payment of benefits to which they are entitled under the Act?
§ Dr. ADDISONUnder Section 11 of the National Insurance Act, 1911, an approved society must ascertain before paying sickness benefit whether the member is entitled to compensation. My right hon. Friend is informed that, in the case referred to, delay was caused by the fact that the member changed her address during the progress of the inquiries.