§ Mr. CASSELasked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state what will be the position of an insured person during the prescribed time within which he has the option of joining an approved society or becoming a Post Office contributor; by whom will his benefits be administered if he falls ill during such period; and from whom will he receive sick pay?
§ Mr. MASTERMANIt is not the present intention of the Commission to prescribe a longer period for this purpose than the minimum waiting period for sickness benefit. The last part of the question does not therefore arise.
§ Mr. CASSELasked the Secretary to the Treasury when a member of an approved society attains the age of seventy, and ceases to pay contributions, will the society still be liable to make the same payments or any payments in respect of such member to the insurance committee to provide medical benefits; if not, from what source will the doctor and chemist be paid for medical benefit for such member?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe payments made by an approved society to an insurance committee for medical benefit will be made on account of all the members of a society, and not of any particular member. They will be paid out of the funds of the society as built up by the contributions made in respect of all the members and the reserves accumulated in respect of them.