In the House of Commons on Monday the Insurance Bill
was again discussed in Committee, the twelfth clause being considered. One of the provisions of this clause is to the effect that if an insured person is in a hospital no sickness or disablement benefit shall be paid to him, but that it shall be applied to the relief of his dependants if he has any. The discussion centred upon the effect this provision was likely to have upon the voluntary hospitals. It was contended that a workman contributing 4d. a week for insurance would be unlikely to contribute another penny for hospital work, and also that many employers would reduce their subscriptions to hospitals in consequence of the Bill. Mr. Lloyd George announced an amendment providing that when an insured person had no dependants the sickness benefit should be paid over to the hospital for his maintenance. He further pointed out that the expense of treating hundreds of thou- sands of out-patients would be transferred by the Bill to the Insurance Fund. Mr. Lloyd George added that he did not believe that the Bill would have the effect of reducing the subscriptions of either employers or workmen.
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