§ 98. Sir GEORGE TOULMINasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is 548 aware that a large number of members of friendly societies who are included in the terms of Section 15 (2) (e) of the National Insurance Act are suffering hardship either by being without medical treatment or only obtaining it at an enhanced cost; whether these circumstances have been brought about by reason of the allowance to doctors under the Act having been increased beyond the 6s. assumed by the actuaries; and whether, as he has granted 2s. 6d. a year to such old members as are insured persons for the period between ages sixty-five and seventy, he is prepared to propose any plan which will enable their societies to restore to these members the position they have lost in respect to medical benefit solely owing to the changes produced by the National Insurance Act, from the benefits of which they are shut out by their infirmities?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI am afraid I can only refer my hon. Friend to the answers which I have already given to similar questions.