§ Mr. TOUCHEasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether any, and, if so, what reply has been given to those insured persons who have applied to be allowed to make their own arrangements for medical attendance and treatment, as provided for in Section 15 (3) of the National Insurance Act?
§ Mr. ARTHUR STRAUSSasked how many applications for permission to contract out of the National Insurance Act for medical treatment have been received by the London County Insurance Committee; and how many by all the committees in Great Britain?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe responsibility for deciding upon applications from insured persons to be allowed to make their own arrangements under Section 15 (3) of the National Insurance Act rests in the first instance with the several insurance committees to whom such applications are made. The committees will require to be satisfied as to the special circumstances of each particular case, and as to the acceptance by the doctor of the conditions required by the regulations as to reports, certificates, and evidence of satisfactory service; and will also, in dealing with all the applications in their area have regard to the general interests of the insured persons in that area. The number of applications received by the committees could not be obtained without a special return from all the committees, which would involve considerable labour at a time of great pressure, and would possess no practical value.
§ Mr. TOUCHEasked the total number of doctors on the London panels after eliminating repetitions of names of practitioners who appear on more than one list?
2087W
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe total number of different doctors who have signed agreements to attend insured persons with the London Insurance Committee, and whose names have been issued on the borough lists, is 780. Some more names have been received since these lists were printed, and I understand that the number is now nearly 800.