28. Lieut. Colonel J. SANDEMAN ALLENasked the Minister of Health whether he can now give any indication of the numbers of persons who, owing to non-prolongation of the national health insurance period, will cease to be insured at the and of the year?
§ 54. Mr. LOGANasked the Minister of Health what is the estimated number of panel patients in approved societies in England ceasing insurance through unemployment this year; is he prepared to sanction prolongation of insurance; and, if not, will he state what additional number of Poor Law doctors will be necessary to deal with panel patients?
Sir H. YOUNGI understand the hon. Members to refer to those persons who by reason of long-continued unemployment will cease to be entitled to medical benefit under the scheme of National Health Insurance on the 31st December next, though remaining insured under the contributory pensions scheme. It is impossible at present to state what the number of such persons will be as it will depend on the extent to which persons at present unemployed succeed in finding work or exercise their right to become voluntary contributors before the end of the present year. The figure given in the Government Actuary's Report on the Bill of 1932 was 80,000 but the hon. Members will be aware of the marked improvement in employment which has taken place since that Report was made. The remaining parts of the question asked by the hon. Member for the Scotland Division of Liverpool (Mr. Logan) anticipate tomorrow's Debate, when they can most conveniently be discussed.
§ Mr. LOGANIn view of the statement of 80,000, which is not considered by the approved societies to be an under estimate, is it not possible for a regulation to be issued by the Ministry for prolongation?
§ Mr. LAWSONIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that there has been an actual increase of the unemployed who are affected by this arrangement?
§ Mr. RHYS DAVIESWhen the right hon. Gentleman speaks of the right of unemployed persons who have been unemployed for a long period to become voluntary contributors, will he bear in mind the difficulty these people have of paying any contributions at all? When they become voluntary contributors, they are called upon to pay the whole of their contributions
§ Mr. LOGANIn regard to the latter part of my question and the reference to Poor Law doctors, will that also be considered to-morrow?
Sir H. YOUNGThat depends upon the number who actually go out of insurance. No exact estimate of that can be formed until the end of the year.