§ 87. Sir K. WOODasked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to a communication recently issued by the British Medical Association to doctors on the panel lists, entitled "Organisation of Insurance Practitioners in consideration of, and in the event of, a refusal of the terms offered by the Government for National Health Insurance Work," which contemplates a refusal in certain contingencies to carry on the panel service; and whether he will state what action he proposes to take in such a contingency?
§ The MINISTER of HEALTH (Mr. Neville Chamberlain)The communication to which the hon. Member refers is understood to be a confidential circular issued only to insurance practitioners, and I have no official knowledge of it. Negotiations with representatives of insurance practitioners with a view to the revision of their terms of service have now begun, and the prospects of a successful issue would not be enhanced by any statement at this stage as to the stops which the Government might find it necessary to take in a contingency which I have every reason to hope will not arise.