30. Mr. FRED HALLasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the proposed Grant of £50,000 to Ireland for the provision of health insurance benefits will be subject to the approval of Parliament; if it is intended to be an annual allowance, supplementary to the funds already provided by the United Kingdom for the working of the National Insurance Act in Ireland; and if he will state the sum per insured person in Ireland to be contributed out of moneys provided by Parliament for similar benefits compared with the amount so provided as regards insured persons in England?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThe answer to the first two questions is in the affirmative, except that, as regards the second, the Grant would, in the event of the extension of medical benefit to Ireland, be merged in the Grant for that benefit. The object of this special Grant, as I explained in my reply to the hon. Member for Waterford on the 9th instant, is to provide a contribution towards certain expenses arising in Ireland in connection with national insurance owing to the absence of medical benefit in that country. There is therefore no corresponding Grant in Great Britain where medical benefit exists.
§ Mr. CASSELWill the right hon. Gentleman see that the approval of the House is asked before the agreement is made with the doctors?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEOf course, no payment will be made by the Treasury until the approval of the House has been obtained.
§ Mr. CASSELWill the House be allowed to see the agreement before it is concluded?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGENo agreement beyond a provisional agreement will be concluded before the House is in possession of it.
§ Mr. W. O'BRIENWill the House have an opportunity of discussing it this Session?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThat I cannot say.