HC Deb 16 March 1939 vol 345 cc592-3
54. Mr. A. Jenkins

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider the appointment of a Departmental committee to consider and report on the advisability of making available dental and ophthalmic treatment to all members of National Health Insurance approved societies?

Mr. Elliot

The provision of dental benefit and ophthalmic benefit as statutory benefits available to all insured persons would require an increase in the weekly rates of contribution at present paid by insured persons and their employers, and would also involve a substantial increase in the amount payable from the Exchequer towards the cost of National Health Insurance. This is one of a number of suggested major extensions of the National Health Insurance and Contributory Pensions schemes which will have to be examined when the time is opportune and placed in an appropriate order of priority, due regard being had to the financial and other considerations involved. In the meantime I do not think it desirable that a special Departmental committee should be appointed to investigate this particular suggested extension.

Mr. Jenkins

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are quite a number of approved societies, particularly those whose members come from the heavy industries, where the incidence of sickness is highest, which are unable to provide their members with these services, and will he take steps to see that they get equal treatment under National Health Insurance?

Mr. Elliot

It is true that societies have made representations suggesting that other societies should assist them in this matter, which, as the hon. Member knows, is a very difficult subject.

Mr. Jenkins

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree with what I have suggested, that a large number of these members who are most badly in need of these services cannot get them because of the failure of a great many of these societies to agree, and will he take steps to see that some agreement is reached.

Mr. Elliot

I cannot undertake to see that agreement is reached.

73. Mr. Sutcliffe

asked the Minister of Health whether his Department has considered the desirability of legislation to provide statutory dental benefits, in view of the great value of such benefits to the community; and whether, in that case, he can state what the annual costs would be for each person?

Mr. Elliot

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I have just given to the hon. Member for Pontypool (Mr. Jenkins). As regards the second part, any estimate of the cost of providing dental benefit as a statutory benefit must necessarily be highly conjectural in the absence of reliable data as to the proportion of insured persons who would be likely to apply for treatment in the course of a year, and the average amount of treatment which would be required in each case to secure dental fitness. The average cost per case under the existing additional benefit arrangements is about £4 and the claim rate is less than 10 per cent, of the persons eligible, but these figures bear little relation to the proportion of insured persons who might apply for treatment if a statutory benefit, including payment of the whole cost of treatment, were provided—a consideration which would probably also affect the average cost per case.