§ 30 and 31. Mr. BATEYasked the Minister of Health (1) if he is aware that 24 district Poor Law medical officers in the county of Durham are complaining of financial loss, owing to 15,000 unemployed people having had their right to medical benefit stopped; and will he state what steps he proposes to take in the matter;
(2) if he is aware that not less than 15,000 people in the county of Durham have lost their medical benefit as from 31st December, 1933, as a result of the National Health Insurance and Contributory Pensions Act, 1932; and will he consider making some provision so that these people can have medical attention?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREA considerable number of insured persons in the administrative county of Durham have recently lost their title to medical benefit under the Health Insurance Scheme. My right hon. Friend has seen reports in the Press that a number of district medical officers in Durham have made representations to the local authority for an increase of remuneration. This is a matter for the local authority, with whom he is getting into touch as to the position. The district medical service is available for those who are no longer within the insurance scheme.
§ Mr. BATEYThe Minister has not answered Question 31. As the Government deliberately took medical benefit away from such a large number of people, do they not think the time has now arrived when they should make some other provision for medical benefit for these people?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREOur action has been discussed at great length on numerous occasions in the House, and the provisions we have made have been explained.
§ Mr. BATEYBut seeing that such a long time has elapsed since 1932, when the Government took this step, that there is no improvement in trade, and that there is such a huge number of sufferers, will they not reconsider the question?
§ Mr. MAXTONGo ahead.
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREThe hon. Gentleman, I think, does not understand that the figures he mentioned are exaggerated, and that in any event only about one-quarter of the true total will require medical benefit. At any rate, provision has been made, and we are sending an inspector to get in touch.
§ Mr. BATEYIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the figures are taken from the medical union, and that he ought to know the number of men who have lost benefit?
§ Colonel CLIFTON-BROWNWill my hon. Friend remember that there is a county council election in the county of Durham and that that is possibly the cause of these questions?
§ Mr. MAXTONDoes the hon. Gentleman realise that one-quarter of 15,000 people is over 3,000 people in one county who are unable to get adequate medical attention when they are sick?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREThat is not so, for they will get attention from the district medical service, and they will be in the same position as all those outside insurance.
§ Mr. MAXTONDoes the hon. Gentleman realise that these officers were overworked before this additional work was put on their shoulders, and that it has meant for them an extra job?
§ Mr. BATEYMay I make a personal statement? The imputation has been made that I brought up this question because of the county council elections. I want to assure you, Mr. Speaker, that the county council elections were never in my mind.