§ Mr. WILLIAM PEELasked whether, under the provisions of the National Insurance Bill, the position of the provident dispensaries will be altered; and, if so, in what respect; and would the present subscribing members, numbering about 110,000 in London alone, receive subsidies from the State and employers, respectively, in aid of their contributions for free medical relief?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThere is no reason why provident dispensaries should not form or join "approved societies" for the purpose of administering the benefits (including medical attendance), provided by the Bill, for the benefit of so many of their members as are insured under the Bill.
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThe difficulty of that is they could not be recognised as approved societies unless they are prepared to pay full benefit; but there is nothing to prevent them coming in as approved societies if they comply with the requirements of the Bill.
§ Mr. PEELIs it a fact that the condition they do not fulfil is they are not registered under any Act?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI should rather like to consider that, but I think there are many other conditions; for instance, they do not pay sick benefit, and I am not sure they provide medical attendance in all cases. It is quite a different purpose they serve at present, and it depends entirely whether they would like to become approved societies under the Bill; if they do they can become approved societies.