§ 34. Mr. J. Hyndasked the Minister of National Insurance whether he will reconsider the provision whereby an old age pensioner has his pension reduced from 26s. to 16s. per week when he has been in hospital for 56 days.
§ Mr. J. GriffithsThe National Insurance (Overlapping Benefits) Regulations, which provide for adjusting the benefit of patients in hospital were made in provisional form on account of urgency. They are still under consideration by the National Insurance Advisory Committee. I expect to receive the Committee's report in the near future and I shall then have to consider in the light of their recommendations in what form the substantive regulations should be made.