24. Mr. FREDERICK HALL (Dulwlch)asked what was the total amount of the contributions paid by, and on behalf of, Frederick Richard Townsend, of Kennington, an insured person who died recently owing to his being unable to obtain proper medical assistance; and what was the value of the benefits which he had received under the National Insurance Act?
§ Mr. MASTERMANAs I have previously stated, I am unable to make any statement in regard to this case until I have seen the report of the inquiry which has been instituted by the London Insurance Committee.
§ 41. Mr. G. LOCKER-LAMPSONasked what arrangements have been made in the case of an insured person who has received medical benefit from a doctor in one locality, and who, having moved to another district within the year, requires a certificate of sick pay?
§ Mr. MASTERMANIf an insured person moves from the area of one insurance committee to that of another he can, by giving notice to the second committee, obtain medical attendance, and also such certificates as are required to be furnished in connection with any claim for sickness benefit from a doctor on the panel in the second area.
§ Mr. G. LOCKER-LAMPSONCould the right hon. Gentleman see that a circular is issued informing people of that statement?
§ Mr. MASTERMANA circular to the insured persons or to the committees?
§ Mr. G. LOCKER-LAMPSONTo the insured persons.
§ Mr. MASTERMANI will give what publicity I can to this statement, but to issue a circular to 14,000,000 persons is rather a big order.
91 MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINEasked (1) why, under the National Insurance Act, only arm splints are scheduled; what happens if an insured person breaks his thigh; and who supplies the thigh splints since chemists are only paid for those articles on the schedule; (2) whether, in view of the fact that medicated wool is not mentioned in the list of appliances to be provided as part of the medical benefits in terms of No. 27 of the Regulations in the Second Schedule to the National Insurance Act, insured persons are expected to pay for this themselves, seeing that medicated wool is almost an essential in most surgical cases; (3) whether, under the National Insurance Act, in the case of gauzes and lints, sal alembroth is scheduled; and, if so, whether regard was had to the fact that owing to the chemical action between the cotton and the alembroth this medication does not last at the outside for more than three months; and (4) whether the usual custom in hospitals and infirmaries is to have white or grey open-wove bandages six yards in length; whether under the National Insurance Act they are required to be only four yards; whether four yards are absolutely useless for binding an arm; whether calico for supporting purposes has always been used six yards in length and is now ordered to be three yards; whether crepe bandages have always formerly been made in five-yard lengths; whether under the National Insurance Act they have to be six yards; and will he state the reason for these changes?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe splints prescribed in the list of appliances are not restricted to arm splints, and the bandages are not restricted as to length, as suggested by the Noble Lord. The gauze and lint referred to were included because some doctors attach importance to their use under certain conditions, but doctors may, of course, use them or not, as they please. I am advised that the surgical dressings included in the list are adequate for the treatment of the surgical cases which fall within the scope of medical benefit.
MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINEAm I to understand that the splints for fractures can be got and are on the schedule?
§ Mr. MASTERMANAs I understand all splints and apparatus can be got which will be required for these surgical cases, and which fall within the scope of medical benefit.
MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINEIs it the case that a broken arm falls within the scope and a broken leg does not?
§ Mr. MASTERMANNo, I said the splints prescribed are not restricted to arm splints.
§ 54. Mr. CASSELasked the Prime Minister whether, in view- of the fact that no additional Grant is to be made out of public moneys towards medical benefit in respect of the first three months from the 15th January, 1913, but the whole cost of the provision of medical benefit for that period is to be met out of funds available under the National Insurance Act, the Supplementary Estimate for medical benefit relates to the period subsequent to the expiration of such three months; and, if so, why a Supplementary Estimate is being taken for the year ending 31st March, 1913?
§ Mr. MASTERMANIt is proposed to proceed by Supplementary Estimate in order to obtain the sanction of the House at the earliest possible date to the incurring of expenditure upon medical benefit in excess of the amounts available out of contributions under the National Insurance Act. It is very desirable, regard being had to the provisions of Section 61 of the National Insurance Act, and in order that insurance committees may be in a position to enter into contracts for the whole year, that the whole amount available for medical benefit should be credited to the committees as soon as possible after the commencement of the calendar year, as indeed is contemplated by the financial provisions of the Act; and this cannot be done unless the money is issued from the Exchequer before the 31st proximo.
§ Mr. CASSELIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the result of paying out of this year's money what is properly charged upon next year will be to rob the old Sinking Fund?
Mr. MASTER MANWe are adopting a course which no one has pressed more strongly upon us than the hon. and learned Member himself.
§ Mr. CASSELIs he aware that at the time I pressed that course upon the Government the Prime Minister, in an answer given to me on 9th January, said that no part of this money would be in respect to the first three months after 15th January, and whether in these circumstances it is not the case that the result of taking it out of this year's money will be to rob the old Sinking Fund?
§ Mr. MASTERMANNo part. The Act contemplates that the insurance committees shall be credited on 1st January with the whole of the money required for medical benefits during the whole year, and in the present uncertainty that prevails among the medical profession it is essential that they should be able to make these contracts for the whole year and have the money as soon as possible to meet the contracts.