§ 57. Mr. G. LOCKER-LAMPSONasked what percentage of tuberculous persons are receiving other than institutional treatment; and how many of these persons would receive institutional treatment if accommodation and funds were available?
Mr. BENNThe Return referred to in my reply to the hon. Member for South Norfolk on the 12th instant, which will shortly be laid before the House, will show under the heads of the several forms of treatment the number of cases in which treatment has been given in each form.
62. Mr. DENNISSasked how much was spent in the year 1913 out of the sum of £1,500,000 provided in the Finance Act of 1911 for sanatoria?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Montagu)The expenditure of this sum rests with the Local Government Boards, and the information desired by the hon. Member is not available in my Department. I will make-inquiry and circulate the information with the Votes.
§ 63. Mr. G. LOCKER-LAMPSONasked how many county and borough councils have as yet failed to make arrangements whereby all tuberculous persons can receive suitable treatment; and what is proposed to be done to bring backward county and borough councils into line?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe great majority of county councils and councils of county boroughs have submitted schemes for the provision of institutional treatment which will be available for all classes of the community. In some few instances the schemes are at present limited to the provision of dispensary treatment. Six county councils out of fifty, and seven councils of county boroughs out of the total of seventy-five, have not yet submitted proposals, and the Department are in communication with 1123 these authorities. I understand that proposals will shortly be submitted by the London County Council for providing additional sanatorium accommodation.
§ 64. Mr. G. LOCKER-LAMPSONasked whether in some districts no accommodation is available for advanced cases of tuberculosis among insured persons under the National Insurance Act; and, if so, what steps the Government propose to take to cope with this danger to the public health?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELIn some districts there is insufficient accommodation at present for advanced cases of tuberculosis, but it will be gathered from the answer I have just given that county and county borough councils generally are taking steps to provide additional accommodation for such cases as part of their schemes for the institutional treatment of the disease in all classes of the community. The question is receiving my immediate attention.
§ 79. Sir RANDOLF BAKERasked how many county councils have built sanatoria since the coming into operation of the National Insurance Act; and how many have taken no steps beyond the provision of dispensary treatment?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELCounty councils are providing the necessary sanatorium accommodation in various ways. Nine county councils have already acquired existing buildings or provided new buildings, eight have acquired beds at existing institutions, and are arranging for extensions to be provided for the use of the council, and ten have purchased or propose to purchase, sites for the erection of new buildings. The other councils which propose to provide sanatorium accommodation as part of their schemes have not yet definitely decided in what way the accommodation shall be provided. Only seven of the councils have limited their schemes for the present to dispensary treatment.
§ Sir R. BAKERDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think there is a certain shortage in the provision of first-class hotel accommodation promised by the Chancellor of the Exchequer a few years ago?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI suggest this is not a matter for ribaldry. The provision of sanatorium accommodation is of great importance.
§ Sir R. BAKERWhose language was ribald—the Chancellor of the Exchequer's or mine?
Mr. F. HALLWhere the county councils have not provided sanatoria, has that part of the premium actually paid for it by the assured been returned to them?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI must ask for notice of that question.