§ 32. Mr. JOHN WARDasked the right hon. Gentleman whether he has seen a circular issued and signed by the chairman of the Newcastle-upon-Tyne medical committee, which states that only one free certificate will be given to sick insured persons and that 1s. will be charged for each additional certificate; and, if so, what action, if any, he intends to take in the matter?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI am informed by the insurance committee that the charge of 1s. referred to certificates required for purposes other than for claiming sickness benefit under the Act; but as the circular, issued by the local medical committee in January last, gave rise to misunderstanding, the insurance committee took the matter up, with the result that wherever any charge had been made for certificates required for the purposes of the Act the money has been refunded to the insured persons.
33. Mr. F. HALLasked if any persons other than duly qualified medical practitioners have been placed or are still on panel lists in connection with the administration of medical benefit under the National Insurance Act?
§ Mr. MASTERMANAs I informed the hon. Member last Tuesday, duly qualified medical practitioners alone have the right to be included in a panel list, and, so far as I am aware, no other persons have been placed or are still on any panel list.
§ 53. Mr. BRIDGEMANasked the Prime Minister if, in view of the fact that the question of extension of medical benefit to Ireland is a question involving legislation, and consequently incapable of being raised on the Temporary Commissions Vote or any other Civil Service Vote, he will say what other opportunity does he propose to give for the discussion of the subject?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Asquith)While the actual question of the extension of medical benefit to Ireland cannot be raised as a Vote in Supply, the constitution and methods of procedure of the Treasury Committee can be discussed on the Temporary Commissions Vote. If a Bill is introduced to extend medical benefit to Ireland, the subject can, of course, be discussed then.
§ Mr. W. O'BRIENMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he will see that there will be an occasion when the subject can be discussed?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAs the hon. Member is aware, the Committee has not yet reported. Certainly, we will give an occasion for discussion