§ 52. Mr. ASTORasked the President of the Local Government Board if he will state whether he has given, or will give, the approval of the Board to sanatoria for the treatment of insured persons without their having been inspected at some time by an officer of the Local Government Board?
§ Mr. BURNSI would refer the hon. Member to my reply of Thursday last, in which I stated that the Board had then approved of eleven sanatoria and other residential institutions for a period of six months, and had communicated with the authorities of seventy-five other institutions, offering to approve of these institutions for a similar period. The great majority of these institutions have been inspected at one time or another by one of the medical officers or inspectors of the Board, and, as regards the remainder, I have sufficient information to justify their being approved for a limited period.
§ Mr. BURNSThe amount of information the Board has, and which I believe is known to the hon. Gentleman himself, with regard to the value and capacity of institutions of this kind is so great that special inspection is hardly necessary.
§ 53. Mr. ASTORasked the President of the Local Government Board if he will state whether domiciliary treatment for insured persons recommended for that form of sanatorium benefit has to be approved by the Local Government Board; if so, whether the Board propose to issue an Order or Memorandum dealing with this; and when the Order will be circulated?
§ Mr. BURNSThe Local Government Board have already issued an Order prescribing the manner of domiciliary treatment of insured persons suffering from tuberculosis of which they approve for the purpose of Section 16 (1) (b) of the National Insurance Act.
§ Mr. BURNSI am referring to a document I signed on Saturday and issued first thing on Monday morning.
§ Mr. ASTORDoes the right hon. Gentleman mean that up to Saturday or Monday there was no home treatment available?
§ Mr. BURNSThere was home treatment available, but not on the distinct lines set forth in the Order issued on Monday.
§ Mr. ASTORDoes the Government propose to neglect what is definitely stated in Clause 16, Sub-section (b), of the National Insurance Act?
§ Mr. BURNSThe Government do not intend to neglect any aspect of the treatment of sick persons under the Insurance Act, and it was put into definite official form by the Order I have issued.
§ 57. Mr.GODFREY LOCKER-LAMPSONasked the Secretary to the Treasury why Circular, Medical I., dated 25th July, 1912, and containing the terms of application for sanatorium benefit, was issued ten days after insured persons became entitled to such benefit under the National Insurance Act?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe circular referred to was issued because it was understood that some insurance committees desired to have further guidance and suggestions in regard to the administration of sanatorium benefit. The circular was not necessary for the administration of sanatorium benefit, and a Memorandum on the same subject had been previously issued on the 6th July.
§ 62. Mr. GODFREY LOCKER-LAMPSONasked whether an insured person will be able to sue his society for the non-provision of sanatorium benefit from 15th July; whether the society will in turn be able to sue the insurance committee; and whether any compensation will be payable to the insured person pending his receipt of the sanatorium benefit to which he may be entitled?
§ Mr. MASTERMANAn insured person is entitled to the sanatorium benefit for which he is recommended by the Insurance Committee, with whom rests the responsibility for making arrangements for such benefit. Disputes between insured persons and insurance committees will, under Section 67 of the Act, be decided in the manner prescribed by the Insurance Commissioners, who may appoint a Referee whose decision shall be final.
§ Mr. G. LOCKER-LAMPSONWould the right hon. Gentleman kindly answer the last paragraph of my question?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe hon. Gentleman's question suggests that there will be a question arising between the insured person and his society as to the non-provision of sanatorium benefit. That question will not arise—if it does arise between the insured person and the society—but between the insured person and the Insurance Commissioners.
§ Mr. G. LOCKER-LAMPSONWill any compensation be paid pending the receipt of sanatorium benefit?
§ Mr. MASTERMAN"Compensation pending the receipt of sanatorium benefit" has no meaning at all to me.
§ Mr. JOHN WARDHave there been yet any applications for sanatorium benefit?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI think there have been some, but not very many, and some of them have been dealt with.
§ Mr. G. LOCKER-LAMPSONWhat compensation will an insured person be able to receive if there is no accommodation to provide sanatorium benefit?
§ Mr. MASTERMANAny insured person who applies will receive the treatment recommended by the insurance committee.
§ 63. Mr. ASTORasked whether the right hon. Gentleman will state how many beds in residential institutions, other than sanatoria, which have been approved by the Local Government Board are now empty and available for insured persons?
§ 64. Mr. ASTORasked whether the right hon. Gentleman will state how many beds in sanatoria which have been approved by the Local Government Board are now empty and available for insured persons?
§ Mr. BURNSThe Local Government Board have now approved for a period of six months of thirty sanatoria and other residential institutions, containing 1,172 beds, but, as I have previously informed the hon. Member, I cannot say how many of these beds are now available for insured persons.
§ Mr. BURNSThere are available at this moment four local authorities with special sanatoria accommodation for upwards of seventy beds; fifty-seven local authorities contract for patients in 200 beds; ninety-three infectious hospitals with provision for 970 beds; fourteen dispensaries run by local authorities; fifty voluntary dispensaries, and a number of other dispensaries and shelters for patients if they apply.
§ Mr. BURNSI shall be delighted to do my best to comply with the precise question put by the hon. Member if he will put it down on the Paper.
§ Mr. BURNSI do not think the hon. Member expects me to telegraph every half-day or day for information.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEThere are no beds.