§ Mr. BRIDGEMANasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to Circular A. S. 75 of the National Health Insurance Commissioners, in which it is stated that the Act does not make it obligatory for approved societies to avail themselves of the provisions of Section 15 (2) (e) of the National Insurance Act; and if he can indicate the words in the Section referred to on which the Commissioners rely as giving any option to the societies in the matter?
§ Mr. MASTERMANSub-section 15 (2) (e) obliges the Commissioners to make Regulations which shall require every insurance committee to make arrangements enabling medical attendance and treatment to be obtained for aged and disabled members of friendly societies on the 721W same terms as for insured persons. Provision for this purpose has been made in the Regulations, but there is nothing in the Section or Regulations which requires such persons, or their society on their behalf, to avail themselves of the provision so made. It would clearly be inequitable to oblige such persons or their society to enter into such an arrangement as the Sub-section renders available, seeing that they could often obtain, and in many cases are obtaining, similar benefits in virtue of private arrangements.