§ Mr. Hollisasked the Minister of National Insurance for what reason inmates of a mental colony, who are sent out to work and pay National Insurance at the full rate, only receive benefit in the event of illness as hospital cases at the rate of 5s. per week.
Mr. B. TaylorI assume that the inmates to whom the hon. Member refers are patients in a National Health Service hospital entitled to free maintenance as well as treatment. In accordance with the National Insurance (Hospital Inpatients) Regulations, 1949, such patients if they have no dependants come within the general rule that sickness benefit is to be paid at the reduced rate of 5 s. a week after a stay in hospital of a year. The reasons for these provisions are explained in the Report of the National Insurance Advisory Committee which was laid with the Regulations in question on 29th July, 1949.