§ Mr. O'SHEEasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in Ireland, in the case of a woman whose husband is an insured person and who, in her confinement, procures the attendance of the dispensary doctor or dispensary midwife under the provisions of the Medical Charities Acts, there is any liability, under Section 18 of the National Insurance Act, to deduction from the maternity benefit of any payment for such doctor or midwife; and, if not, whether the entire sum of 30s. will be payable without deduction?
§ Mr. MASTERMANUnder the Medical Charities Acts only "poor persons" are eligible to receive a dispensary ticket from a guardian or relieving officer requiring the attendance of a dispensary medical officer free of charge. The question of whether a particular applicant is a poor person is one that would require to be determined by reference to the circumstances of the particular case, and though the receipt of maternity benefit might be a relevant consideration, no general answer which would apply to all cases can be given beforehand. I would refer my hon. Friend to an answer given by my right hon. Friend the President of the Local Government Board on the 23rd instant with regard to a somewhat similar question under the English Poor Law.