§ 24. Mr. GODFREY LOCKER-LAMPSONasked whether certain members of the county of Worcester Insurance Committee recently held an inquiry into an alleged shortage of doctors in Cradley; whether the inquiry disclosed excessive sickness; and whether the doctors alleged at the inquiry that some approved societies, to help themselves out of the difficulty of inevitable insolvency, were refusing to give sickness benefit for certain diseases, a list of which had been made out, and included gout and bronchitis; and, seeing that the societies' members are thereby necessarily 1573 suffering, whether the Government propose to make a grant to the societies concerned, so that the members may obtain their rights, and the fears of insolvency with levies or decreased benefits may be removed?
Mr. BENNThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; as regards the second and third parts, the subcommittee referred to reported that they had no means of confirming the allegations and expressed no opinion upon them. The remaining part of the question does not, therefore, arise.
§ Mr. G. LOCKER-LAMPSONWill the hon. Gentleman make inquiry as to whether members who have paid their full contributions are getting the full benefits to which they are entitled?
§ Mr. MOORECould the hon. Gentleman say whether we shall get an answer before the next by-election?