§ Mr. O'DONNELLasked whether insured persons in Ireland have been put to considerable inconvenience in getting sickness benefits owing to the refusal of doctors to sign certificates except at exorbitant prices; and what steps will be taken to meet this difficulty?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI am informed by the Irish Commission that a certain amount of difficulty has arisen in Ireland in connection with sickness certificates. A sum of £50,000 is being taken in the Supplementary Estimate, which will be to a large extent available for defraying the reasonable cost of such certificates. As I stated, however, in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Barrow-in-Furness on 30th January, societies can adopt alternative methods of obtaining evidence of illness if excessive fees are charged for medical certificates; and the Irish Commissioners have issued to all societies and branches, transacting business under the National Insurance Act in Ireland, a circular pointing out that societies may, if they think fit, obtain evidence of illness by the adoption of a system of lay visitors, by the inspection of medical relief registers, or by the acceptance of a written statement from a clergyman, magistrate, or other responsible person who can testify to the claimant's incapacity for work.