§ Mr. RHYS DAVIESasked the Minister of Health whether all the schemes approved by his Department for contracting out of the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Acts and health insurance provide benefits equal to those given under health and pension insurance, particularly with regard to the pension for the widow in the event of the death of the husband and disablement benefit to a man incapacitated after two years' service, during which period at least 104 deductions have been made from wages or salary?
Sir H. YOUNGAs I informed the hon. Member in reply to a similar question on 24th November last, the certificates of exception which may be issued to public authorities are not granted unless the benefits given are equivalent to the statutory benefits to the extent required by the Acts. In particular, if total exception from the contribuory pensions and health insurance schemes is desired, the benefits must include provision equivalent on the whole to the widow's pension and disablement benefit provided under the Acts, although the qualifying conditions may not be precisely the same.