§ Mr. FELLasked if the medicine chests kept on board fishing boats would, when the National Insurance Act was in force, be supplied to them by the insurance committees so that the crews who would be insured persons, although they were deprived of medical attendance whilst at sea, might yet have the benefit of the drugs and appliances as some return for the payments to be made by them and by their employers under the Act?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThe Bill docs not repeal or modify the obligation upon ship owners to supply medicines on board ship.
§ Mr. FELLWill these fishermen get any benefit when away on long voyages, say to the Shetlands or the Orkneys? Why should they not at any rate receive medical benefit?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThe owner is under an obligation to supply them with medical attendance as long as they are on board ship.
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThe hon. Member does not realise the basis of the scheme. What enables us to prepare a modified scheme in that case is that the owner does undertake a great responsibility, and the scheme deals only with what is necessary to supplement his legal obligations.