§ Mr. SHORTasked the Minister of Health whether a civil servant, or any other person in an excepted employment, is accepted as a Voluntary contributor under the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, even though he or she has not paid 104 contributions to national health insurance?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINYes, Sir. The Regulations made under Section 15 (5) of the Act allow such a person to become a Voluntary contributor under the combined scheme of health insurance and pensions provided that contributions under the Act are no longer compulsorily payable in respect of him, and that since the 15th July, 1912, he has been continuously employed for at least 104 weeks in excepted employment for which pensions contributions have been payable, or would have been payable if the Act had been in force.
Mr. ROBINSONasked the Minister of Health whether any extension has been made of the period during which persons may become Voluntary contributors under the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act; and, if so, what is the latest date at which applications to become Voluntary contributors will be considered?
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Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe Regulations made under Section 13 (1) of the Act provide that the time within which a person who was not insured at the commencement of the Act may, if duly qualified, become a Voluntary contributor under the Section referred to may he extended to a date not later than the 2nd January next, where the circumstances of the particular case justify such an extension.
Mr. ROBINSONasked the Minister of Health what provision is made for a woman, an insured person, who, in 1927 or subsequent years, marries an uninsured man to enable her to continue to receive sickness and disablement benefits and the old age pension at 65?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINA woman who on marriage continues to be employed will remain an insured person and be entitled to the normal benefits provided by the Health Insurance Act and the Contributory Pensions Act. A woman who on marriage ceases to be employed cannot herself become a Voluntary contributor hut, if she marries an uninsured man, an option is given to him to become a Voluntary contributor in right of her previous insurance and, if he exercises that option, he will, in addition to becoming entitled to the ordinary health insurance benefits, be in a position to secure both for himself and for his wife, an old age pension at the age of 65.
Mr. ROBINSONasked the Minister of Health whether women who served in the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps or similar organisations, but did not serve overseas, are accepted as Voluntary contributors under the Widows', Orphans, and Old Age Contributory Pensions Acts provided they served two years in one of the auxiliary corps attached to the services?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINWomen who served in these organisations do not fall within the category of persons serving in the forces of the Crown during the late War, for whom special provision is made by Section 44 (5) of the Act. Their eligibility for Voluntary insurance under the combined scheme of health insurance and pensions must accordingly depend upon the circumstances of each case.