§ Colonel Ropnerasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that satisfactory arrangements are not made to inform officers commissioned from the ranks that they may exercise the option of contracting out of the National Health Insurance Scheme in spite of the fact that a serving officer is entitled to no benefits other than maternity benefit, and if he will remedy this.
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§ Sir J. GriggI am satisfied that as a general rule the option is brought to the notice of officers to whom it applies when they are commissioned. If my hon. and gallant Friend knows of individual cases where this has not been done I shall be glad to look into them. I should also perhaps remind my hon. and gallant Friend that 1s. 1d. of the weekly contribution of 1s. 5d. made by an officer is in respect of pension rights. The remaining 4d. not only confers maternity benefit but also rights to health insurance benefits which, subject to certain conditions, continue for 18 months after he has left the Forces.