§ 70. Mr. HICKS BEACHasked the Secretary to the Treasury how many insured' persons have not yet selected their panel 1755 doctor; and when they will be allotted to the various doctors on the panel whose lists are not yet full?
Mr. BENNI am unable at present to give the hon. Member the information asked for in the first part of the question. With regard to the latter part of the question, arrangements for allocation differ according to local circumstances, and no uniform date can be fixed, but arrangements have been made whereby any insured person can without delay obtain the services of a practitioner on the panel.
§ 71. HICKS BEACHasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that many doctors have so far received no remuneration for their services as panel doctors for the quarter ending 13th July, and that many have still a considerable balance owing to them for the quarter ending lab April; and what is the cause of this delay of payment of money due to them?
§ Mr. W. BENNThe hon. Member is under a misapprehension in thinking that a payment of a previously ascertainable amount is due at the end of each quarter of the calendar year to each doctor now on the panel. The regulations provide that the insurance committee shall make payments in advance at the end of each quarter of such amounts as may be agreed for this purpose between it and the doctors on the panel, but the precise amount actually due to any particular doctor can only be finally determined when all the various factors in the year's working of the Act have been ascertained and allowed for. I am not aware of any case in which advances have not been made in respect of both the first and the second quarter of this year.
§ Mr. GWYNNEWill the hon. Gentleman say whether there is any standard fixed as to the percentage?
§ Mr. W. BENNI do not know whether there is a standard. I imagine that is within the discretion of the committee. If the hon. Gentleman will give due notice I will ascertain.