12. Mr. SHIRLEY BENNasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether an insured female named Cock, of 46, Union Road, Leytonstone, Essex, in the area of the Essex Insurance Committee, has been refused permission to contract out of medical benefit by that committee, although she is subject to fits, and has for over two years been under a medical practitioner who refuses to join the panel; and whether anything can be done to induce that committee to assent to the father's request to be allowed to keep his daughter (the insured person) under that doctor?
§ Mr. WEDGWOOD BENN (Lord of the Treasury)My right hon. Friend is informed that the grounds stated in the application referred to were not, in the opinion of the committee, such as to justify them in giving their consent. It is, however, open to the insured person to renew her application, and to bring to the 9 notice of the committee any facts not previously before them.
§ 13. Mr. ARTHUR HENDERSONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he intends to make an attempt this Session to secure the passage of the Bill to extend medical benefits under the National Insurance Act to insured persons in Ireland?
§ Mr. BENNI regret that in my right hon. Friend's unavoidable absence, I am unable to make any statement.
§ Mr. A. HENDERSONMay I ask my hon. Friend when an answer may be expected. This question has been postponed once by request, and I think it is time we had the promise given to the House put into operation?
§ Mr. A. HENDERSONI will put the question down for next Monday.