32. Mr. Graham Whiteasked the Minister of Health if he will make a statement on the progress made under the scheme for payment of treatment allowances to persons suffering from tuberculosis under the scheme introduced in Memorandum 266/T in April, 1943; and if he is now in a position to extend the benefits of the scheme beyond the narrow limits then laid down.
§ The Minister of Health (Mr. Willink)Arrangements for the payment of treatment allowances under the scheme to which my hon. Friend refers have been made by all county councils and all county borough councils. As my hon. Friend is aware, the special arrangements for meeting the cost of these allowances from the Exchequer were introduced as a war-time measure on the ground of the importance, from the point of view of the war effort, of dealing with certain cases of tuberculosis, and the arrangements which have been made cover such cases. Where this consideration does not apply, the 1566 question of amending existing provision for maintenance is being considered as part of the arrangements for social insurance.