402 MEDICAL SECTION 



payment of ics. in normal cases and 155. in abnormal 

 cases, when maternity benefit is received. 



Our Numbers. The working of the maternity 

 benefit has been, on the whole, very satisfactory, and 

 although regularly cases are brought to our notice 

 in which benefit probably should have been received 

 but has not, still it has been difficult to obtain any 

 evidence of direct negligence. 



In the investigation of the cases now to be shortly 

 considered the tendency often has been to call a halt, 

 and to say that there are no defects or hardships 

 connected with the maternity benefit scheme ; but 

 our numbers show that there are persons, even if 

 few, who are not included in the list of recipients, 

 either by reason of non-insurance or default, though 

 their needs are great. These cases are well worth 

 recording. 



In all, 2,552 cases were investigated by our depart- 

 ment ; of these 2,145 received maternity benefit and, 

 together with the 214 cases in which no information 

 was received, need not be considered further at present. 

 The remaining 193 merit further attention, for in 

 56 cases one parent was insured, although no benefit 

 was received, while in 137 cases neither parent was 

 insured. 



Insured: Maternity benefit received ... 2,145 



,, ,, not received 56 



Not insured 137 



No information 214 



Total 2,552 



Let us first consider the 56 cases in which, though 

 one parent was insured, no benefit was received. In 

 1 6 of these cases, no further information was available 

 beyond the fact that two of the births were illegitimate. 

 In 32 cases the insured person was in arrears with pay- 

 ment, generally owing to periods of unemployment 



