§ Mr. GROVESasked the Minister of Health whether insured women compulsorily retired from their normal insurable occupation before or after 4th January, 1926, who are willing, capable, and available for insurable employment but unable to obtain such, are treated as entitled to the benefits conferred by the prolongation of the National Health Insurance Act, 1921, and the prolongation of the Insurance Regulations, 1925; and whether they are 1682W treated as insured persons qualified for the full benefits under the Widows' Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1925?
§ Mr. NEVILLE CHAMBERLAINThe conditions for extension of insurance under the National Health Insurance (Prolongation of Insurance) Act, 1921, and the National Health Insurance and Contributory Pensions (Prolongation of Insurance) Regulations, 1925, are the same for insured women as for insured men. In the ordinary case it rests with the insured person's approved society to consider and decide, subject to the member's right of appeal, whether the conditions have been satisfied, and in the circumstances put in the question it may be presumed that a society would come to the conclusion that insurance should be prolonged. If, however, the hon. Member has in mind any particular case in which the provisions are thought not to have been correctly applied, and will send me details, I will have inquiry made. So long as insurance continues by virtue of the above provisions the insured person's rights under the Contributory Pensions Act, 1925, remain unchanged.