HC Deb 27 November 1963 vol 685 cc259-61
14. Mr. Rankin

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he proposes to alter the regulations for claiming maternity fees under the National Health Service.

15. Mr. Steele

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the new simplified maternity fee claim form for general practitioners will be introduced.

31. Mr. W. Baxter

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will ensure that a simplified form for the claiming of maternity fees in Scotland under the National Health Service is introduced, on the same basis as that which now applies in England.

34. Mr. Grimond

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the regulations for claiming maternity fees under the National Health Service in Scotland will be amended to rectify the anomaly between the Scottish and English regulations.

Mr. Stodart

There is no disparity between the Scottish and English fees, and the regulations simply provide in both countries that the form shall be issued for the purpose by the Executive Council. The form used in Scotland has been agreed with the General Medical Services Committee (Scotland) as representing the profession, and my right hon. Friend expects to discuss a revision of it with them after current discussions about a new form of maternity record card have been completed.

Mr. Rankin

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that these discussions and this matter have been under consideration for over a year, and that because of the inactivity of his right hon. Friend there is serious discontent amongst doctors in Scotland who are doing maternity work? Is he aware that it is not the record card nor the fees which are in dispute, but the maternity claim form? Is he further aware that in that form doctors in Scotland have to fill in 15 separate items every time they make a visit to a maternity case during pregnancy, while their colleagues across the Border have to fill in nothing but a single tick in doing exactly the same kind of work? When is the hon. Gentleman going to remove that discrepancy?

Mr. Stodart

I should like to correct the hon. Gentleman when he says this has been going on for over a year. I think it is a matter of about eight or nine months. [Laughter.] I think the hon. Gentleman can appreciate that there is a subtle difference. So far as indignation goes, until representations were received within the last week or two there has been no evidence of indignation at all. I must put it to the hon. Gentleman that this is a matter on which we must take guidance from the General Medical Services Committee, which is the body which speaks for the profession in Scotland.

Mr. Steele

Did not the hon. Gentleman's right hon. Friend the other day indicate that he tried to keep in line with England? Surely in this case we have fallen behind? Would the Minister say when this new provision was made for the claiming of these maternity fees in England, and why there has been this long delay in bringing this simplified form into operation in Scotland?

Mr. Stodart

It has never been the case that the forms for Scotland have been in fact the same. There always have been discrepancies. Again, no matter what the hon. Gentleman says, I think I must tell him quite frankly that till the General Medical Services Committee in Scotland is satisfied with the change, although we shall, of course, draw its attention to this, we would not be prepared to put pressure upon it.

Mr. Baxter

In view of the fact that this simplified form for the claim of maternity benefits in Scotland has been in operation a considerable time, why is it that the Scottish Office always seems to be like the donkey's tail, right behind?Is it not time that we saw some real vigour and more determination from Scottish Ministers in seeing that Scotland gets a fair crack of the whip?

Mr. Stodart

I would think that the answer was that, unlike the hon. Gentleman and his colleagues opposite, we do not claim to think that the gentlemen in St. Andrew's House know best.

Mr. Ross

The hon. Gentleman said that consideration of this change has been going on for eight or nine months. Could he tell us how much longer it is likely to go on?

Mr. Stodart

I think it is probably likely—although, of course, the General Medical Services Committee will take note of what has been said—till the profession are satisfied that the new form would comply with the requirements which they desire.