§ 11. Lord NINIAN CRICHTON-STUARTasked if the Government are prepared to help, financially or otherwise, those members of friendly societies over sixty-five years of age, who are insured persons, and therefore, eligible for sickness benefit, to get medical benefit?
§ Mr. MASTERMANYes, Sir. The Supplementary Estimates laid on the Table of the House on Friday include provision for a Capitation Grant of 2s. 6d. in respect of those insured persons, whose societies elect to provide medical treatment, as one of the benefits to be given under Section 49 of the Act.
§ Sir RYLAND ADKINSMay I ask whether any similar or analogous benefits will be given to those over seventy, members of friendly societies, who tinder the Act get no benefit?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe provision is entirely limited to insured persons.
§ 12. Mr. O'GRADYasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether an insured per son preferring to pay his doctor's bill in the usual way can claim from the local committee the sum allowed under the National Insurance Act for medical ser vices; and, seeing that this is allowed in the case of insured persons suffering from cancer, will he explain why this should not be allowed in cases of insured persons desiring to retain their own doctor?
§ Mr. MASTERMANIn cases where the insurance committee allows an insured person to make his or her own arrangements for medical attendance and treatment, a contribution towards the cost of that treatment will be made by the committee, in accordance with Section 15 (3) of the Act.
§ 20. Mr. CHARLES DUNCANasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the Perth Burgh Insurance Committee have fixed a £2 limit for medical benefit under the National Insurance Act on the ground that a panel of doctors could not otherwise have been set up; whether this action, which is causing dissatisfaction amongst 1769 insured persons in Perth, is in order; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?
§ Mr. MASTERMANUnder Section 15 (3) of the Act, the question of whether an income limit above which persons must make their own arrangements for receiving medical attendance and treatment and receive a contribution towards its cost, instead of receiving medical benefit under the ordinary arrangements, is one to be determined by the insurance committee. Paragraph 14 (2) of the Medical Benefit Regulations requires that before such an income limit is fixed the committee shall give public notice of their intention and shall consider the representations of any societies with members resident in the area. I am informed that the Perth Insurance Committee had given public notice accordingly, and that a meeting will be held at which representatives of societies will have an opportunity of expressing their views before a final decision is arrived at.
§ Mr. WHYTEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that many of the representatives of the societies are under the impression that no public intimation was given; has he received any information1?
§ Mr. MASTERMANNo. I have not personally received any; I will make further inquiries.