§ Sir K. Josephasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether, in connection with the forthcoming changes of rates in National Insurance benefits, increases will be made in the benefits of hospital in-patients.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterYes. I have now signed the National Insurance (Increase of Benefit and Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations under which beneficiaries in hospital will receive appropriate increases. Thus, a beneficiary with a dependent wife who has remained in hospital for 8 weeks and who now receives 57s. 6d. a week, will have this increased to 70s.; similarly a beneficiary without a dependant who 15W now receives 25s. a week after 8 weeks in hospital will get 30s. a week; and the minimum rate of 7s. 6d. payable to those who have been in hospital for at least a year will be increased to 10s. a week.