95. Mr. WORTHINGTON-EVANSasked whether an insured person who is engaged in a musical comedy company on tour in the country can obtain medical benefit; whether he is entitled to call on any panel doctor in any part of the country to treat him without payment; and how is such doctor to be paid?
§ Mr. MASTERMANArrangements are made under the medical regulations whereby persons changing their residence within the year are able to change their doctors on giving notice to the insurance committee of the area to which they are 975 moving. Where insured persons belong to a profession which is constantly moving from one place to another, and staying in each of them for a very short time, they would appear to be among those to whom Section 15 (3) contemplates that permission might, in view of their special circumstances, be given to make their own arrangements for medical attendance and treatment, and to receive a contribution towards the cost of the same.
Mr. WORTHINGTON-EVANSWill the right hon. Gentleman allow in these cases persons to make their own arrangements?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThat rests with the insurance committee. I think they are very appropriate cases.
Mr. WORTHINGTON-EVANSWill the right hon. Gentleman say with which insurance committee it rests, seeing that these people are moving about all over the country?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe insurance committee of the district in which the person is resident or of the one in which he applies.
MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINEWill the right hon. Gentleman take into consideration the case of domestic servants, who may be going up and down between Scotland and England very frequently?
§ Mr. MASTERMANYes. I think that would be a very appropriate case.