§ 85. Mr. KILEYasked the Prime Minister when the Bill will be introduced to amend the law of insurance under the National Insurance Act?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThis question is at present under consideration by the Government, and I cannot, therefore, make any statement at present.
§ 103. Sir A. WARRENasked the Minister of Health how many friendly societies' medical institutions approved under Section 15, Sub-section (4), of the National Health Insurance Act are now in existence; how many of such approved medical institutions have ceased to exist since the coining into operation of the National Health Insurance Act and what cause (other than insufficiency of income) has brought about their dissolu- 581 tion; whether any complaints have been made to the National Health Insurance Commission or the Ministry of Health as to the lack of efficiency of the medical service to insured persons rendered by such approved institutions; if so, whether such complaints have been investigated and established by any impartial or competent authority under the Insurance Act; and if he. will say why the Ministry of Health is not prepared to pay approved medical institutions for services rendered to insured persons such amounts pro rata in fees and additional bonuses granted by the Treasury towards increased expenses upon the same recognised basis as the Ministry have been and are now paying the panel doctors engaged in private practice and rendering similar services under the Insurance Act?
§ Dr. ADDISONWith regard to the last part of this question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Poplar South on the same subject on Monday last, and to the correspondence which I am sending him showing that every one of the approved medical institutions referred to in his question is being afforded the opportunity of submitting a claim for grants analogous to those which have been made to insurance practitioners. It would take some little time to furnish the whole of the information asked for in the early part of the question as it is not readily available; but I shall be pleased to have particulars sent to my hon. Friend if, after consideration of the correspondence which I am sending him, he considers that any useful purpose would be thereby served.