MAJORITY REPORT. 
211 
501. We think that this problem is undoubtedly one of diffi- 
culty from the point of view of the administration of Societies, 
and we are convinced that there is a very good case for giving 
Societies a legal remedy which will, at the same time, protect 
an insured person from the hardship which would be involved 
in a complete stoppage of benefit. A time limit should, however, 
In our view, be imposed. 
502. We therefore recommend that provision should be made 
whereby Societies will be empowered (in cases not falling within 
the three classes above mentioned) to recover, without prejudice 
to any existing right of recovery, overpayments of benefit by 
withholding weekly from sickness or disablement benefit due in 
respect of subsequent periods. of incapacity occurring within 12 
months of the date on which the overpayment was brought to 
the notice of the member, an amount not exceeding one-third 
of any sum payable in respect of sickness or disablement benefit. 
BENEFIT FOR TUBERCULOUS INSURED PERSONS IN PART-TIME 
EMPLOYMENT, 
503. To one special point brought forward in the evidence 
telating to the question of tuberculosis we would refer in connexion 
with the administration of sickness benefit. It has been urged 
Upon us by the Cambridgeshire Tuberculosis After-Care Associa- 
tion (App. LXXXIII, 2-14), the London County Council (App. 
LXXXTV, 84-35), and the Joint Tuberculosis Council (App. XCIII, 
12), that a reduced sickness benefit should be allowed during 
Such part-time employment of tuberculous persons as they take 
Up under medical advice. It appears that such part-time employ- 
Ment is often a very beneficial element in the measures for curing 
or alleviating this disease, provided that, the work is carried on 
under proper conditions and subject to medical supervision. We 
are not unsympathetic to this proposal on general grounds, and 
We are glad to know that in fact the Ministry of Health approves 
Some such relaxation of the necessarily strict rules governing the 
Payment of sickness benefit in the case of persons in Tuberculosis 
Colonies such as Papworth, But we see considerable difficulties 
I any attempt to extend the arrangement to persons in ordinary 
employment. It would be difficult to secure the proper medical 
Supervision and the appropriate conditions of work in business 
Concerns which necessarily must organise their arrangements on 
4 commercial basis. Employers could not be expected to conform 
to a number of restrictions directed primarily towards the care 
of a small and specially affected proportion of their workers. We 
May add that, though provision for the payment of a disablement 
allowance to members not totally incapable of work is included 
among the additional benefits of the Act, this benefit has been 
found administratively impracticable and has never been adopted