40. Mr. ROBINSONasked the Minister of Health whether in the administration of national health insurance a man disabled in the Great War, and in receipt of pension or otherwise in respect of the disability, is treated as eligible for treatment by his panel doctor for the disability; and, if so, whether any payment is made from the Ministry of Pensions to the insurance fund to cover this service?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of HEALTH (Sir Kingsley Wood)A man disabled in the Great War who is insured under the National Health Insurance Act is entitled in the ordinary course of his insurance to medical benefit. This includes treatment for his War disability so far as it does not involve the application of special skill and experience of a kind which general practitioners as a class cannot reasonably be expected to possess. A man who is not so insured is entitled by virtue of Regulations under Section 59 (3) of the Act to similar treatment if he is in receipt of a disability pension and his total income does not exceed £160 a year. In neither case is any payment made to National Health Insurance Funds by the Ministry of Pensions towards the cost of the service.