§ 44. Mr. NIELDasked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the Insurance Commissioners, whether he is aware that Miss Ruby Holt, of 191, Church Gardens, Ealing, made and forwarded an application on 1st June last to make her own arrangements for medical attendance, which application was refused; whether he is aware that the patient has been attended by Dr. Bennett, of Ealing, who has been the medical attendant of every member of her family for many years past, and in particular has attended the applicant since her childhood; for what reason and under and in pursuance of what Regulation has Miss Holt's request been refused?
Mr. BENNThe circumstances of the application are in substance as stated. As I have already said in a previous reply to the hon. Member, the discretion to allow such applications for special arrangements rests in each case with the insurance committee.
§ Mr. NIELDDoes the hon. Member not think that in a case of this sort the application ought to be granted without question or discussion?
§ Mr. NIELDVery well. If the discretion is with the committee, ought it not to be exercised in a case such as is raised in the question?
Mr. BENNI have no doubt the committee will act in accordance with the instructions given to the committee by the decision of this House.
§ 57. Mr. NIELDasked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East whether he will state the reason why the Middlesex insurance committee has neglected to pay Dr. J. Chambré, of South Ealing, the agreed sum payable for his attendance upon twenty-nine insured persons, being members of the District Railway staff resident in Ealing in respect to the year 1913; whether such attendance was given in pursuance of an arrangement made between the committee and Dr. Chambré; and whether full particulars of the claim have been before the insurance committee for some months past?
Mr. BENNThe insured persons in question had been permitted by the insurance committee to make their own arrangements with the doctor referred to, and, as the hon. Member has already been informed, the dividends payable out of the Special Arrangements Fund to persons making their own arrangements could not be calculated until the accounts of all such persons had been received.