HC Deb 02 June 1913 vol 53 cc584-5
73. Mr. WORTHINGTON-EVANS

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether insurance committees have power to allocate members who have not selected a doctor to medical institutes; and whether such allocation is being made by the Wolverhampton Insurance Committee with the consent of the Insurance Commissioners?

Mr. MASTERMAN

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, and no such proposals have been submitted to the Commissioners by the Wolverhampton Insurance Committee.

76. Mr. WORTHINGTON-EVANS

asked whether payments have been withheld from medical institutes for medical benefit till recently; whether only 1s. 3d. per head is being paid for the quarter as against 1s. 9d. to the committees for the panel doctors; whether many unnecessary forms have had to be signed by the patients at the institutes; and for what reason these difficulties are put in the way of the institutes?

Mr. MASTERMAN

Payments have been made in all cases in which the institute has been able to give the insurance committee and the Commissioners a reasonable assurance that it will be able to fulfil the conditions of medical benefit. The amount payable per member is not necessarily 1s. 9d. per quarter, but such sum, not exceeding 1s. 9d. per quarter, as is actually expended in providing medical attendance and treatment, and the amount of the advance payments must be limited accordingly pending evidence as to the expenses actually incurred. Where there is satisfactory evidence that more than 1s. 3d. has been expended, more than 1s. 3d. has been paid. The answer to the third part of the question is in the negative, and the fourth part does not arise.

Mr. WING

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these medical institutions are being bludgeoned out of existence by the regulations of the Insurance Commissions, and that when the Insurance Bill was passing through this House the Home Secretary promised equal treatment for medical institutions as for doctors on the panel which is not given at present?

Mr. MASTERMAN

I think if the hon. Gentleman looks into the matter he will see that that pledge has been fully carried out and that medical institutes are receiving for medical attention and treatment to insured persons exactly the same amount as doctors on the panels.