§ Mr. SNOWDENasked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the Insurance Commissioners, if an approved society in a case where a contribution card fully paid up has been lost can at once pay sick benefit to the member 382W in question should he fall sick, without waiting for a settlement of the question of the lost card?
§ Mr. WEDGWOOD BENNThe loss of a card would only prevent payment at present if the payments on the member's other cards amounted to less than twenty-six. In the latter cases I do not consider a society would ordinarily be entitled to pay benefit if the card has never been surrendered to them. It is open to the member to stamp a fresh card in order to establish an immediate claim to benefit, without prejudice to any allowance that may ultimately be made in respect of the lost card if the circumstances are found to justify it.