asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state whether it is proposed to introduce proposals for legislation to restore the provisions under the National Health Insurance Acts in respect of voluntary contributors, the termination of which by the Social Welfare Act, 1952, deprived such contributors of important benefits for which, in many instances, they had contributed over many years and for which they still have great need.
Ceisteann—Questions. Oral Answers. - National Health Insurance Contributors.
Prior to the date of the coming into operation of the Widows' and Orphans' Pensions Act in 1936, voluntary insurance was available in relation to health benefits only. The number of persons who up to the end of 1935 had elected to become voluntary contributors was 108. It was only after the introduction of pensions insurance that the number of voluntary contributors increased and it is clear that the great majority elected to become voluntary contributors because of pensions insurance.
Under the Social Welfare Act, 1952, which came into operation on 5th January, 1953, voluntary insurance is confined to insurance for widows' and orphans' pensions only, at a special contribution rate of 1/6 a week. The scope of the compulsory provisions of the Act is confined to persons working for employers and is further restricted in the case of non-manual workers to persons where remuneration does not exceed £600 a year. The difficulty of making satisfactory provision for premature death of the breadwinner is recognised by permitting persons who cease to be compulsorily insurable to continue as voluntary contributors for this benefit only.
As regards persons who were already insured as voluntary contributors under the repealed Health and Pensions Acts, the rights of such persons to sickness benefits and treatment benefits were not terminated at once. They were preserved for a period of 18 months, that is up to 5th July, 1954, and this period can be further extended by any periods of sickness occurring after 5th January, 1953. This period corresponds to the period of free insurance under the repealed Acts during which a contributor remained insured and eligible for benefit after contributions ceased to be payable by or in respect of him.
I should add that the full benefits of the Social Welfare Act, including treatment benefit, but excluding unemployment benefit, to which voluntary insurance cannot apply, are worth a weekly contribution of about 4/9.
I will, however, have the matter further examined in connection with future legislation which I have in mind.