§ 57. Mr. RHYS DAVIESasked the Minister of Health the changes proposed in the relationship between doctors and their panel patients; whether any regulations covering those new relationships are to be laid upon the Table of this House and subject to the usual practice; and why the approved societies have not been consulted on these changes?
Sir H. YOUNGRegulations making minor amendments in the Medical Benefit Regulations will shortly be published in draft and will be laid before Parliament in due course. I do not think it will be found that the regulations materially affect existing relations between insurance doctors and their patients; and the third part of the question does not, therefore, arise.
§ Mr. DAVIESIs it not the custom of the Ministry of Health to consult the Consultative Committee of the Ministry in regard to health insurance administration, and why has not the committee been consulted this time?
Sir H. YOUNGThe hon. Member is rather anticipating the event. If I may, I would ask him to await consideration by the House of the regulations, and then to see whether there is any necessity for the question which he now asks.
§ Mr. DAVIESIs it not customary for the Consultative Committee to be consulted when regulations are being prepared and before they come into force?
Sir H. YOUNGThe hon. Member is going very wide of his original question. I must content myself by replying that in all necessary cases, if any advantage is to be derived, it is customary to have such consultation.
§ 65. Mr. HICKSasked the Minister of Health the numbers of insured persons who each year since the introduction of the prolongation of insurance have been enabled to maintain their health insurance and pensions rights; and the total cost of this concession?
Sir H. YOUNGThe desired particulars could only be obtained by a detailed examination of the registers of every Approved Society and branch over the past 10 years, and the cost involved would, I fear, be prohibitive.
§ Mr. MAXTONDid not the May Committee give an estimate of the amount to be paid by dropping the prolongation of insurance and how could that estimate have been made if these statistics were not available?
Sir H. YOUNGSuch figures as the May Committee gave were of a much more general character, and would not provide the detailed information which is asked for in this question.
§ 66. Mr. LOGANasked the Minister of Health the estimated amount of money to be expended under the Prolongation of Insurance Act, 1930, during the current year; and what amount to the last convenient date has actually been expended?
Sir H. YOUNGThe cost to the Exchequer under the National Health Insurance (Prolongation of Insurance) Act, 1930, was estimated to lie between £80,000 and £130,000. No payments under the Act can be made until returns of the number of persons affected are received from approved societies after the end of the current year.
§ 67. Mr. DAVID GRENFELLasked the Minister of Health the number of unemployed persons whose health insurance will terminate on the 31st December?
Sir H. YOUNGI would refer the hon. Member to the memorandum explaining the proposed financial resolution on National Health Insurance (Prolongation of Insurance) which was presented as a Command Paper (No. 3966) on 16th November, where the figures are given.
§ 68. Mr. D. GRENFELLasked the Minister of Health whether he will state the amount of surplus or deficit, as the case may be, at the last valuation of those societies whose membership is con fined to miners?
Sir H. YOUNGThe amount of surplus or deficiency of every approved society will be given in the appendix to the report of the Government Actuary on the third valuation, which will be published very shortly, and of which I will send the hon. Member a copy on publication.