§ Mr. W. BAKERasked the Minister of Health whether a civil servant with remuneration not exceeding £250 per year, who is compulsorily insured in respect of widows' and orphans pensions but not for old age pension, will be entitled to become also a voluntary contributor in respect of health insurance, and, if so, what voluntary contribution will he pay?
§ Mr. N. CHAMBERLAINSuch a civil servant will be in the same position as the civil servants referred to in the reply given to the hon. Member on the 29th July, except that the voluntary contribution will be increased by 2d. a week (or 1d. a week in the case of a woman), 1731W representing the difference between the ordinary rate of contributions payable under the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Bill and the reduced rate payable in respect of persons who are compulsorily insured for widows' and orphans' pensions only. The payment of the increased contribution will, however, confer rights in respect of an old age pension under or by virtue of the Bill in such circumstances and subject to such modifications as may be prescribed under Clause 15 (7) of the Bill.
§ Mr. DUCKWORTHasked the Minister of Health if ex-employés of the Poet Office in receipt of a pension are in a position to become voluntary contributors under the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Bill in order to receive the old age pension at 65?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINSuch persons, other than married women, will be entitled to become voluntary contributors under the combined schemes of health insurance and pensions, if they have been engaged for at least two years in insurable employment or employment which would have been insurable but for the issue of a certificate of exception under the National Health Insurance Acts. Their title to old age pensions at 65 will, however, be subject to special conditions to be prescribed under Clause 15 (7) of the Contributory Pensions Bill.
§ Mr. DUCKWORTHasked the Minister of Health whether a man who is now 62, who is not at present insured under the national health insurance but who was at one time insured for more than 104 weeks, can become a voluntary contributor, in view of the fact that on attaining 65 he will not be able to fulfil the condition of having been continuously insured for five years; and whether, if he is able to become a voluntary contributor, he will be eligible to receive the old age pension at 67 when the five years' condition will have been fulfilled?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINIn the circumstances mentioned in the question it is open to the man to become a voluntary contributor, but as, under the Bill, contributions are not payable by a voluntary contributor after he reaches the age of 65, the man in question would obviously be unable to satisfy the statutory condition in Clause 8, which requires that1732W for the three contribution years immediately prior to the date on which he completed five years of insurance the number of contributions paid by him represented, on the average, not less than 39 contributions in respect of each of these three years. Unless, therefore, the question of a widow's pension also arises it could not be to his advantage to become a voluntary contributor.
§ Mr. DUCKWORTHasked the Minister of Health if the pensioned widow of a police officer will be eligible to receive the old age pension at 65 under the Widows, Orphans, and Old Age Contributory Pensions Bill, in view of the fact that she has been paying national health insurance for some years, and is thus qualified to become a voluntary contributor?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe widow of a police officer who is in the position indicated by the hon. Member will be eligible to receive an old age pension at 65 on the same conditions as any other insured woman.