§ 17. Sir J. D. REESasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the inquest held at Henley on 4th February on Mr. Green, who died from cocaine poisoning following upon a dental operation, the drug having been administered by an unqualified person who was severely censured by the jury; to the inquest held on 4th March on Mrs. Petersen, in whose case also cocaine was administered by an unqualified person under similar circumstances; whether he is aware that there are in the United Kingdom 20,000 persons practising as dentists who have not qualified; that any layman can administer chloroform or cocaine, ether, and other anæsthetics; and whether it is proposed that, under the National Insurance Act, arrangements with any unqualified person who may succeed in imposing on any insured person shall be officially recognised?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary to the hon. Member for Brentford on 26th March. I have no information with regard to the specific cases referred to in the first three parts of the question, as they have no connection with the Insurance Act. With regard to the last part, I would point out that dental treatment is not included within medical 1647 benefit, and could in no case be given as one of the benefits of the Act except as an additional benefit after the valuations required by Section 36 of the Act.
§ Sir J. D. REESDoes the Treasury willingly co-operate with these unqualified persons who victimise the public? Is there nothing in the Act to prevent it?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI know nothing about unqualified persons victimising the public, nor does this seem to me to be relevant to the National Insurance Act.