§ 28. Mr. NIELDasked whether the Insurance Commissioners, or any of the insurance committees acting under their directions, claim to have an arbitrary power to refuse an insured person the choice of medical attendant; if so, is there any appeal, and to whom, from any decision come to; and have any Regulations been made upon the subject of applications by insured persons to make their own arrangements, or any definite directions given as to what circumstances should be taken into account in considering such applications?
Mr. BENNSection 15 (3) of the Act of 1911 lays upon insurance committees the duty of deciding in the first instance upon applications from insured persons for permission to make their own arrangements. Regulations have been made in 19 pursuance of the Section, and the provisions of Section 67 (2) are applicable to these cases.
§ Mr. NIELDIs the hon. Gentleman aware that in many cases this permission to make these arrangements is wholly ignored by the Committee?
Mr. BENNI have stated that it is within the discretion of the Committee as to whether or not they give permission to persons to make their own arrangements.
§ Mr. NIELDDoes the hon. Gentleman know that the policy of these committees, as a whole, openly stated, is to ignore the granting of this permission?