§ Mr. PARKINSONasked the Minister of Health if he will have inquiries made into the case of J. Higham, 46, Hartly Butts, Wigan, whose benefits under the National Health Insurance have been stopped by the Blackburn Philanthropic Approved Society on the report from their regional medical officer, who states that Higham is not incapable of work; and, seeing that a report of this kind is not sufficiently clear to warrant the discontinuance of benefits, will he see that this man receives the benefits he is entitled to?
Mr. CHAMBERLAIN:I have inquired into the facts of the case referred to by the hon. Member and I find that Mr. Higham, who had been in receipt of benefit under the National Health Insurance Acts for a considerable period, was referred by his approved society in August, 1922, for examination by a regional medical officer of the Ministry of Health in accordance with the rules of the society. The regional medical officer expressed his opinion that Mr. Higham was no longer incapable of work, and this opinion was confirmed by another 2125W regional medical officer who examined him in September. In view of these two reports the society decided that the payment of benefit must cease, but the member was referred to his right of appeal against this decision under the procedure laid down in the rules of the society. It is understood that Mr. Higham has not, up to the present, availed himself of this opportunity, and in as much as the matter may come to the Ministry as a final Court of Appeal, I regret that I cannot intervene at the present stage.