§ 16. Mr. Pethick-Lawrenceasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has extended the area of the experiment in diagnosis and treatment of workers initiated in the Clyde Valley; and whether he will give the areas which the scheme now covers?
§ The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. T. Johnston)Yes, Sir. The supplementary medical service which has operated in the Clyde Valley since January last has now, I am glad to say, been extended to cover workers of all ages in the industrial areas of Scotland.
§ Mr. Pethick-LawrenceI should like to ask two Supplementary Questions on that answer. Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether he has the concurrence of the medical profession in this matter? Secondly, what is the approximate number of workers affected by it?
§ Mr. JohnstonThe answer to the first Supplementary Question is "Yes, Sir." I have the entire concurrence of the medical practitioners. I cannot, in reply to the second Supplementary Question, give the precise number of workers who are covered by the extended operations of this Act, but the first experiment covered 44 per cent. of the insured workers.
§ Dr. SummerskillDoes this extension also include dependants?
§ Mr. JohnstonIt deals only with workers.
§ Dr. SummerskillIs a housewife a worker?
§ Mr. JohnstonYes, Sir, she is.
§ Dr. SummerskillIt includes her?
§ Mr. JohnstonYes, Sir, if she is a war worker.
Mr. McNeilIs the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that there are sufficient beds to meet all kinds of cases referred for hospital treatment under this scheme?
§ Mr. JohnstonYes, Sir, absolutely.