§ 10. Sir Henry Morris-Jonesasked the Minister of Health the proportion of the population that have selected a doctor under the National Health Act up to 5th July.
§ Mr. BevanBy 5th July well over 30 million of the total civilian population of 42 million in England and Wales had 550 been accepted by doctors under the National Health Service Act. There is still a flood of forms in the hands of doctors and Executive Councils, which have not been counted.
§ Sir H. Morris-JonesDoes the right hon. Gentleman include in that the old panel figures?
§ Mr. BevanYes; but it is very difficult at this stage to analyse the figures, because it may be that many on the panel have applied unnecessarily.
§ Mrs. Jean MannIs my right hon. Friend aware that certain hon. Members opposite are inserting in newspapers letters purporting to tell the people that they cannot have this service without a contributory stamp, and that—
§ Mr. SpeakerThis Question does not ask what hon. Members opposite are doing, but asks:
What is the proportion of the population that have selected a doctor.
§ Mrs. MannIt means that because of that false information only a quarter of the population in Glasgow have chosen a doctor.
§ 11. Sir H. Morris-Jonesasked the Minister of Health how the amount of the capitation fee to medical practitioners under the National Health Act will be arrived at; what deductions come out of the 15s. 6d. per head; and how the amount for each area will be computed, having regard to the proportion of the population who have not selected a doctor.
§ Sir H. Morris-JonesIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that a large number of general medical practitioners are very perturbed about this; that there is grave fear that their total emoluments and income will be considerably reduced from pre-National Insurance income; and that they want to know whether the total pool will be available to them?
§ Mr. BevanI think they ought to await the results of the discussions with the representatives of the medical profession.