HC Deb 04 February 1913 vol 47 cc1997-8
Mr. JOHN REDMOND

I desire to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer a question of which I have given him private notice, namely, whether he is now in a position to make any statement with reference to the promise that he made to appoint a Committee to inquire into the question of medical benefits under the National Insurance Act in Ireland?

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

The Committee which has been appointed to-day consists of Lord Ashby St. Ledgers, as Chairman; Mr. Hugh T. Barrie, Mr. Joseph Devlin and Mr. J. C. R. Lardner, Members of this House; Mr. J. Bradbury of the Treasury; Mr. T. J. Stafford, medical member of the Local Government Board for Ireland; Mr. J. A. Glynn and Dr. W. J. Maguire, Chairman and medical member, respectively, of the National Health Insurance Commission for Ireland; and Mr. W. L. Micks, a member of the Congested Districts Board for Ireland. The Terms of Reference are as follows:—"To consider and report as to the advisability of applying to Ireland the provisions of the National Insurance Act, 1911, with respect to medical benefit and as to the alterations, legislative or otherwise, which in the event of such provisions being applied would be desirable in the systems for affording medical relief at the present existing."

Mr. FORSTER

Are not Nationalist Members for Ireland quite incompetent to give an opinion upon the subject?

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

I am not sure what the hon. Member means. There are two Nationalist Members for Ireland on the Committee.

Mr. FORSTER

I refer to the eighty Gentlemen sitting below the Gangway.

Mr. BOOTH

Do I understand that this Committee will simply have to report whether the medical benefit system in operation in England should be applied to Ireland, or have they power to suggest some alternative system, if found better?

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

They have to consider the Irish position, which is very different from ours. It is not for me to express an opinion as to whether the system in England will apply to Ireland, but I should say it will probably have to be adapted in some way or other to the conditions existing there.