68. Mr. CATHCART WASONasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, inview of the medical and nursing necessi- 1672 ties of the Highlands and Islands, disclosed in the Report of the Committee presided over by the hon. Member for Inverness, he can make some temporary arrangement by which doctors will receive adequate remuneration for their attendance on insured persons?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe extra Grant for mileage in the case of sparsely-populated districts is now receiving the attention of ray right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and an announcement as to the conditions of the Grant will be made in due course.
Mr. CATHCART WASONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of the fact that the doctors in certain parts of the North would only come into the insurance scheme on the understanding that a fair mileage fee would be paid, and that it is impossible to carry out the provisions of the Act unless it is paid; and will the right hon. Gentleman give the matter attention?
§ Mr. MASTERMANIt is to meet these cases that this Grant has been promised. We are now receiving reports from these districts as to the particular steps to be taken.
§ Mr. MUNROWill the right hon. Gentleman say when this Report will be made available to Members of the House?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI do not know that it ever will be made available. The reference is to reports from the insurance committees in these districts, saying what they think will be a fair amount to allow in these cases.
§ Mr. MASTERMANThat Report, I understand, has been presented to the House, and can be obtained in the Vote Office.
§ Mr. MACPHERSONDoes the right hon. Gentleman intend to act upon the recommendations of that Report?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI am afraid I cannot make any statement as to that; they are far-reaching in their effect.