§ 46. Mr. THOMASasked the First Lord of the Treasury whether the Insurance Commissioners have taken any steps to safeguard patients whom they are sending to sanatoria in Derbyshire against the infringement of the provisions of Subsection (2) (e) of Section 14 of the National Insurance Act by the managers of those institutions; and whether he will prohibit the payment of any money by the insurance committees to any sanatoria in Derbyshire, the managers of which may refuse to respect conscience in the manner provided in the above mentioned Sub-section?
Mr. BENNThe duty of making arrangements to provide treatment for tuberculous insured persons in institutions or otherwise, and of considering cases with a view to recommendation for such treatment, is by the Act laid upon insurance committees, not upon the Insurance Commissioners. The arrangements made by insurance committees require the Commissioners' approval, and in no case do they impose any obligation upon insured persons to submit to vaccination as a condition of their being recommended for treatment.
62. MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINEasked how many persons have applied for sanatorium benefit in the county of Fife since the 15th October, 1913; and how many of these have received it under the provisions of the National Insurance Act, including any applicants whose applications were standing over at the date mentioned?
Mr. BENNThe answer to the first part of the Noble Lord's question is forty-eight; five applications were outstanding at the date which he mentions, and forty-nine persons have received treatment since that date.
MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINEIs it not a fact that the Insurance Fund was overdrawn at the date I have mentioned, and that all the tuberculous patients since then have been paid for part out of the rates and part out of the Government advance, and have been kept in hospitals for scarlet fever patients?
Mr. BENNI am afraid I cannot answer all those questions. Perhaps the Noble Lord will be good enough to put his question on the Paper.