§ 30. Mr. WILLIAM O'BRIENasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has considered the right of Ireland, under the equivalent grant arrangement of 1888, to 9 per cent. of the amount of the 985 additional charges for medical relief now proposed to be contributed under the National Insurance Act from the Imperial Exchequer; and whether he will consider the advisability, from the point of view of health and comfort of the poorest part of the Irish population, of applying the funds to which Ireland is thus entitled to contributing, in the same proportion as under the Irish Agricultural Labourers Acts, towards providing housing accommodation at 1s. a week for the labourers in the cities and towns of Ireland?
§ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Lloyd George)The question of making an Exchequer Grant in connection with the work to be performed by doctors in Ireland under the National Insurance Act is now under consideration. Pending a decision in this matter, it would, I fear, be impossible to express any opinion upon the suggestion contained in the second part of the hon. Member's question.
§ Mr. W. O'BRIENMay we take it for granted that the representatives of Ireland will have some opportunity of discussing the matter before the £1,500,000 is voted?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThere will be representatives of every part of the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. T. M. HEALYWhen may we hope for a statement in the present Session?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGESo far as I have the leave of the House.
28. Mr. FRED HALL (Dulwich)asked if any qualifications with regard to age, medical reputation, and proficiency are imposed in regard to doctors whose names are placed on the panels under the National Insurance Act?
§ Mr. MASTERMANUnder Section 15 (1) (6) of the National Insurance Act every duly qualified practitioner has a right to be included in a panel list if a panel is formed in his area. The power of removal, which is provided for in the same Section, is conditional upon subsequent inquiry showing that the continuance of a particular practitioner would be prejudicial to the efficiency of the medical service of the insured; and, in accordance with the request of the medical profession, the regulations with regard to such an inquiry require careful investigation by a specially constituted central body, including members of the profession.
Mr. F. HALLHave any professional gentlemen who have sent in their names to be included on the panels been refused?
§ Mr. MASTERMANNo. The committees have no right to refuse the names that are sent in to be on the panel, if a panel is formed.
Mr. F. HALLAre the public to understand that doctors will be placed on the panels, for whom they are paying, irrespective of whether or not they are competent to carry out the work?
§ Mr. MASTERMANAs I said in my reply, every duly qualified practitioner has a right to be included in the panel list when the panel is formed. That is no resolution of the Commissioners, but a Resolution of the House of Commons.
Mr. F. HALLIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are plenty of duly qualified medical practitioners whom the insured persons will not be prepared to accept?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThere is no reason why they should accept them if they do not want them. The hon. Gentleman is really criticising an action which is the almost unanimous action of the House of Commons.
§ Mr. CASSELIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that that unanimous Resolution is not being carried out?
§ Mr. MASTERMANIt is being carried out, and in no case are the Commissioners doing anything but carrying it out.
79. Mr. FRED HALL (Dulwich)asked the Secretary to the Treasury what was the number of insured persons which it was originally intended to allocate to each doctor under the National Insurance Act; and what sum would have been earned yearly on the basis of the latest terms offered to the doctors?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe National Insurance Act does not contemplate any fixed number of insured persons being allocated to a practitioner. On the contrary, the system of free choice by the insured person, subject to the consent of the practitioners, involves considerable variation in the numbers and a corresponding variation in the total remuneration. The second part of the question does not, therefore, arise.