§ Mr. PARKINSONasked the Minister of Health if he has authorised the decision that when an insured woman, who is in receipt of national health insurance benefits, is certified by a medical officer as being able to do housework though unable to follow her usual occupation, her benefits shall cease, even though she intends to resume her own occupation as soon as her health will permit?
Sir H. YOUNGThere is no general decision that an insured woman who, though unable to follow her usual occupation is able to do housework, is to be treated as not entitled to sickness or disablement benefit. An approved society would not ordinarily regard such a woman as disentitled to benefit pending her early return to her normal employment, but in the case of a woman who is the domestic head of a household and for whom, accordingly, the performance of household duties is in the nature of an alternative to her industrial employment, fitness for the former as well as for the latter form of work would properly be taken into consideration. Societies have been informed that it is their duty to consider every such case on its merits, and any woman who is dissatisfied with the decision of her society is entitled to appeal in accordance with the rules of the society.