§ 3. Mr. HUNTasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the statement that Dr. Howarth, the new medical officer of health for the City of London, has been voted an honorarium of 200 guineas by the insurance committee for Kent; and whether the Kent insurance committee has power to vote honorariums out of insurance funds provided by the people of this country?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Masterman)I am informed by the insurance committee that the sum mentioned was voted by them in consideration of the services rendered by Dr. Howarth as medical adviser of the committee from the time when it was constituted in June, 1912, until the 25th March 163 last. The work performed by Dr. Howarth during this time obviated the necessity of the committee obtaining alternative expert professional assistance, which would otherwise have been necessary for the administration of sanatorium benefit, and which would probably have cost much more than the sum paid to Dr. Howarth. Similar payments to medical officers of health for services of a like character have been voted by many other insurance committees, and have been approved by the Commission.