§ Mr. CLUSEasked the Minister of Health whether, seeing that a person, aged 59, who becomes a voluntary contributor under the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age, Contributory Pensions Act will receive the full pension of 10s. a week on reaching the age of 65, he will say why it is proposed that a person of the same age in exempted employment who becomes a. voluntary contributor shall only receive a pension of 2s. a week on reaching the age of 65?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINIt is presumed that the hon. Member is referring to draft Regulations affecting persons in certain excepted employments which have been issued in accordance with Section 15 (7) (b) of the Contributory Pensions Act, and I would refer him to the reasons given in my reply to questions on this subject on the 11th March.
§ Mr. HARMSWORTHasked the Minister of Health whether, seeing that under the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1925, ex-insured married men under the National Insurance Acts who ceased to be contributors there under through exceeding the income limit, but who have become voluntary contributors under the Act of 1925, are obliged to pay 104 contributions over a period of 104 weeks in order to qualify their wives and children for benefits under that Act, and having regard to the fact that such men by previous contribu- 2063W tions over periods of years helped to build up the National Insurance Fund, he will take whatever steps are necessary to enable voluntary contributors who after a lapse have again entered the insurance scheme to qualify their wives and families as well as themselves by contributing 104 weekly payments at once in one lump sum instead of having to wait 104 weeks to qualify by paying weekly contributions over that period?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe requirement of a waiting period after entry or re-entry into insurance before title to benefits can accrue is an essential feature of all schemes of national insurance, since otherwise a very heavy burden might be thrown on the funds by the payment of a comparatively small lump sum. Moreover, the pensions account is quite separate from the National Health Insurance Fund, and contributions to the latter cannot be diverted to the former. I regret, therefore, that I cannot see my way to introduce the legislation which would be required to give effect to the proposal made by my hon. Friend.