Dr. Morganasked the Postmaster-General whether having regard to the new income limit, raised to £420 in recent National Health Insurance legislation, and to all established civil servants being now excluded from participating in the National Health Insurance scheme by means of voluntary contributions, the existing Post Office regulations covering free medical attention and treatment will be amended so as to cover and include all Post Office workers in receipt of remuneration not exceeding £420 per annum?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonThe matter has been fully considered in connection with representations made by the staff association mainly concerned. The existing regulations are especially favourable to the staff of the Post Office, and an extension of the privilege of free medical attendance would not be justified.
§ Mr. Grovesasked the Minister of Health whether he will reconsider the question of paying sickness benefit to insured women unable to carry on their normal occupation by reason of pregnancy, but able to do some housework, particularly having regard to the numbers of women now undertaking war or other national work?
§ Mr. E. BrownThe question whether a member of an approved society is entitled to sickness benefit is a matter for determination in the first instance by the society, the criterion being the insured person's incapacity for work whether by reason of pregnancy or otherwise. In accordance with the rules of all approved societies, a member is not disqualified from receiving sickness benefit solely by reason of doing light domestic work for which no remuneration is, or would ordinarily be, payable. As regards the particular class of persons to whom my 217W hon. Friend refers, approved societies have been advised that they should ordinarily be prepared, subject to the production of medical evidence, to pay sickness benefit to women members incapable of following their usual employment by reason of advanced pregnancy although they may not be incapable of light household duties.