§ Mr. Alportasked the Minister of National Insurance whether he will review the existing instruction regarding the payment of sickness benefit to self-employed persons in order to ensure that the de minimis principle is so interpreted as to allow a claim for benefit by those who only do work in connection with their business which is essential to prevent their means of livelihood from being lost.
§ Mr. TurtonIt is for the independent statutory authorities to decide claims for sickness benefit and my right hon. Friend has no power to instruct them in their interpretation of the statutory provisions.