MAJORITY REPORT.
201
a year is not entitled to medical benefit, and in such cases the
contribution is reduced by 2d.
471. We have received no evidence of any considerable demand
for the extension of the existing facilities for voluntary insurance.
Some societies have pointed out the limited number of the class
and have commented on the fact that a large proportion of volun-
tary contributors do not continue the payment of their insurance
contributions for more than a few years. The National Amalga-
mated Approved Society, for instance, informed us (Q. 10,581-
10,585) that of a total membership of approximately 2% millions
they had only 2,023 voluntary contributors, and that the tendency
was for such contributors soon to drop out of insurance. Similar
evidence was given by the Ancient Order of Foresters (Q. 4392-
4395) and the Independent Order of Oddfellows, Manchester
Unity (Q. 5815-5816; 6082-6084). The Act expressly provides
that no married woman may be insured as a voluntary contri-
butor. This restriction was no doubt included in the
Act because of the extreme difficulty of supervising married
Women in receipt of Sickness or Disablement Benefit, and in
Particular, of seeing that the insured person does not, during sick-
hess, continue to carry on to a greater or less extent her normal
household duties. The National Union of Societies for Equal
Citizenship have urged that this restriction should be withdrawn,
and that married women should be allowed to be insured as
Voluntary contributors on the same terms as any other persons.
(App. XCIX, 8; Q. 22,986-22,990; 23,007-23,009 and 23,013-
23,018.)
472. In view of the serious difficulty just indicated we cannot
fecommend the adoption of this proposal. It must, however,
be borne in mind that as regards maternity benefit, the married
Woman, who is not herself insured, will ordinarily be entitled :o
the henefit by virtue of her husband’s insurance ; and where the
hushand is not employed, special provision has now been made
Under the Widows’, Orphans’ and Old Age Contributory Pensions
Act entitling the husband to become insured as a voluntary con-
Eributor if his wife was herself an insured person before marriage.
If the uninsured wife of an insured man were permitted herself
to become a voluntary contributor, the effect would be to evoke
a double contribution for her existing rights to a widow's pension
and g pension at 65, since contributions have to be paid under
both Schemes by a single stamp.
473. The special conditions as to the reduction of con-
tibutions and the cessation of title to medical benefit in the
¢ase of voluntary contributors whose income exceeds £250 a
Year, and the provisions relating to the penalties for arrears in
the case of such contributors, do not appear to have given rise
0 undue administrative difficulties, and although one Society
(Rational Association Friendly Society, App. IX, 25: Q. 6565
