§ Mr. SPEARasked if the health board proposed to be set up under the National Insurance Bill will be at liberty to pay 2s. 6d. out of possible available funds in addition to the 6s. to the doctors for attending friendly societies' members, or will such extra payment be confined to the Post Office insured?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThe Insurance Commissioners will have power under the Bill to ensure fair conditions of payment to medical practitioners for their services to insured persons. If the 6s. turns out to be insufficient, the surplus of 2s. 6d. per member provided in the finance of our scheme can be drawn upon.
§ Mr. SPEARWill they have liberty to make that extra payment both to the members of friendly societies and those insured under the Post Office?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI have already explained that with regard to the Post Office insured the 6s. does not come into account at all. Inasmuch as it is an insurance on a bad life it is obvious that 6s. would not cover the medical attendance in those cases.