§ Mr. BIGLANDasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether Mr. H. G. Cowie and Mr. H. P. Orchard, honorary secretaries of the National Insurance Practitioners' Association, in a circular letter addressed to every member of the medical profession, dated 27th December, were 372W authorised by him to make the promise contained in the circular that if a panel was not formed by 31st January the insurance committee, or Commissioners would be able to adopt a whole-time service, or such other arrangements as they might think fit, regardless of the practitioners of the area, and that he had promised that in such case special consideration should be given to those who have applied by 31st December; and, if so, whether he will lay upon the Table copies of what has passed between him and the authorities referred to in this paragraph?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe paragraph in the circular letter referred to appears to state the actual fact that, if panels are not formed in any areas, the panel system would be suspended, and a whole-time service or such other arrangements would be adopted as the insurance committees and the Commissioners decide. In response to questions received from the National Practitioners' Association during the holidays my right hon. Friend replied that priority of consideration would be given in the case of whole-time appointments to doctors who went on the panels, and he will lay a copy of the letter which he wrote to the association, and which has already appeared in the public Press.