§ 44. Mr. MACLEANasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that thousands of people will cease to qualify for national health insurance benefit at the end of the year through their failure to find employment; and whether he is considering any proposals for keeping these people within the scope of the National Health Insurance Acts?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of HEALTH (Mr. Shakespeare)My right hon. Friend is aware that a certain number of people, who have not paid any contributions under the scheme of National Health Insurance for many years, will cease at the end of the present year to be entitled to benefits under that scheme, though they will remain insured under the Contributory Pensions Scheme until the end of the year 1935. My right hon. Friend is afraid that it would be impracticable to impose any further burden on the funds of approved societies by once again extend- 1570 ing the title of these people to health insurance benefits.
§ Mr. LOGANWould it not be possible for the Government to pay a subsidy to the societies in order to retain these people in Health Insurance, and also to keep them within the prolongation scheme, instead of their having to go out of insurance entirely and lose their old age pensions?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREParliament considered this matter very carefully last year, and, as a result, came to certain arrangements, which, my right hon. Friend sees no advantage in upsetting.
§ Mr. MACLEANIs it not the case that, as matters have developed, the situation has become worse since Parliament considered it last year, and does not the hon. Gentleman think it is now time to reconsider what Parliament did last year?
§ Mr. MAXTONDoes the hon. Gentleman's reply mean that the Government will take no steps whatever to deal with this very serious social problem which their legislation has created?
§ 55. Mr. LLEWELLYN-JONESasked the Minister of Health if he has considered the representations sent to him by insurance committees in all parts of England and Wales calling attention to the hardship which a large number of insured persons will suffer after the 31st day of December, 1933, owing to being deprived of medical benefit as the result of prolonged unemployment; and if he will reconsider the position, with a view to enabling these insured persons to continue to receive medical benefit from panel medical practitioners?
§ 57. Mr. LECKIEasked the Minister of Health whether he has considered the resolution sent to him from Barrow Health Insurance Committee, supported by other committees, including Birmingham, urging the Government to consider the position of unemployed persons whose title to medical benefit under the National Health Insurance Act, 1922, will lapse at the end of the year, and recommending that medical treatment in such cases should be provided through health insurance committees and not through medical officers under the control of the public assistance committees; and if he will take steps to give effect to these representations?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREMy right hon. Friend has considered the matter referred to in the questions. The possibility of extending the title of these persons to medical benefit beyond the end of the present year was fully discussed when the amending National Health Insurance Bill of last year was before Parliament, and my right hon. Friend is not prepared to introduce further legislation on the subject. In this connection he would refer the hon. Members to his reply of 9th March to the hon. Member for Walsall (Mr. Leckie).