§ 56. Sir Percy Hurdasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what Departments have medical services of their own; what is the total personnel and cost; and whether it is proposed to bring these departmental services into the new national health organisation?
§ Mr. AsshetonIn the Post Office a headquarters medical branch of about 25 is maintained at an estimated annual cost of about £12,275 and, in addition, capitation fees amounting to about £65,000 a year are paid to some 2,600 local medical officers. Very much smaller services of the same kind are provided in the Inland Revenue, Customs and Excise, and Ordnance Survey Departments, occupying in the aggregate less than half a dozen officers and costing under £2,000 a year.
Medical service is at present provided in Ordnance factories under the Ministry of Supply, but detailed information is not yet assembled and I will communicate further with my hon. Friend.
In reply to the last part of the Question this will be one of the matters to be considered in organising any new national health service.