§ 32. Mr. CHARLES BATHURSTasked whether, on the basis of the right hon. Gentleman's estimate that the number of insured persons and their dependants will probably include more than four-fifths of the total number of persons suffering from tuberculosis in the country, he realises that in Gloucestershire during the first six months of sanatorium benefit 53 per cent, of such cases will be amongst insured persons, and 27 per cent, amongst dependants; whether, seeing that on the basis of the Astor Report one sanatorium bed and one hospital bed will be required for every 5,000 of the population, sixty-six sanatorium beds and sixty-six hospital beds will be required for this purpose in Gloucestershire, fifty-two of each for insured persons and their dependants, and thirty-five of each for insured persons only, and that allowing for the provision in addition of nine dispensaries only the estimated annual expenditure will be £7,366, whereas the 8d. available for institutional treatment of insured persons is estimated to produce £3,433 only, leaving £3,933 to be found from other sources for insured persons alone, or including dependants £6,679, or including the whole community £8,738; and whether, in view of the unwillingness of the already over-burdened ratepayers and their representatives to provide out of the rates the sum of £4,369, a moiety of the above amount, he will be willing, in order that the work may not be carried out piecemeal, but that this problem may be attacked as a whole, to provide a larger proportion than hitherto promised of the above deficit by way of an increased Exchequer Grant?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI hope to see a deputation of the County Councils Association at an early date with regard to schemes for the treatment of tuberculosis throughout the country. In the meantime I do not think that I can undertake, within the limits of a Parliamentary answer, an argument as to the detailed financial proposals of one county.
§ 33. Mr. C. BATHURSTasked whether the insurance committee for the county of Gloucester originally decided to provide for their tuberculous population nineteen dispensaries at an average distance of ten miles, so that such institutions might be reasonably accessible to all requiring advice and simple treatment, but that, when 6d. per head was deducted from the original Is. 3d. as representing domiciliary treatment under the arrangements for medical benefit, the number of dispensaries was reduced to nine only, the average area of such dispensary district being now 137 square miles; and whether the Chancellor of the Exchequer can state what is the area which each such dispensary ought to be made to serve?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThe provision of dispensaries is a matter for the county council and not for the insurance committee. I am not aware that such a scheme as that referred to has been put forward, but even the number of dispensaries stated in the question to be now contemplated would seem to bear a very high proportion to the population as compared with the recommendations of the Astor Report.
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are counties where there are large rural areas, and that as consequently there are greater distances for the population to travel, dispensaries must be more numerous?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI agree. I am only pointing out that they are considerably more numerous than the recommendation in the Astor Report-would warrant us in proposing.