§ Mr. SIMMONSasked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the dissatisfaction caused by the fact that while one contributor who had been a member of his friendly society, which became his approved society on the initiation of the health insurance scheme, for 42 years was denied dental benefit a fellow workman who had only been three years in an approved society was granted the same benefit without question; and if he can take steps to remove this and similar anomalies connected with the additional benefits available under the National Health Insurance scheme?
§ Mr. GREENWOODI am aware that dissatisfaction has been expressed at the denial of dental benefit in the case in question. The position is that the branch of an approved society, of which the contributor is a member, decided to apply its surplus funds for the provision of additional benefits other than dental benefit, and is accordingly not in a position to make any grant towards the cost of dental treatment. As the selection of the additional benefits to he adopted is entirely a matter for the members of 307W the society or branch concerned, I am unable to take any action in regard thereto.