§ Mr. MEAGHERasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that Mrs. Brun, of Kilmanagh, county Kilkenny, who paid insurance in her husband's name, was deprived of maternity benefit on the birth recently of her eighteenth child on the ground that her husband was over sixty-five years of age; and whether, under the circumstances of her case and seeing that all insurance premiums were paid, she will be given the maternity allowance?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI am informed by the Irish Commissioners that Daniel Breen, the husband referred to in the question, is insured under Section 49 of the National Insurance Act, which provides that employed persons over sixty-five on 15th July, 1912, shall receive, instead of the ordinary benefits of the Act, such special benefits as their societies decide, and are able with the available money, to give them. His wife is not insured and any benefits payable are in respect of the husband's insurance and from the funds of his society. His society, acting under the discretion given to it by Section 49 of the Act, decided, like other societies, not to provide maternity benefit as one of the special benefits most suitable to persons who were over sixty-five years of age on 15th July, 1912, but to devote the money available to other benefits, such as sick pay. No maternity benefit is therefore payable. I understand that a Grant of £3 has been made from the King's Privy Purse.