§ Sir KINGSLEY WOODasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Local Government Board, representing the National Health Insurance Commissioners, if he will state the number of medical men on the panel lists on the date of the signing 1407W of the Armistice, and the number of doctors who have been demobilised since that date; and what steps he is taking to secure a more efficient medical service for insured persons by obtaining an early demobilisation of medical men?
§ Major ASTORThe number of practitioners working for the Insurance Committees in England on 1st October, 1918, was 8,084, besides a certain number holding commissions in the R.A.M.C. who were free to do some part-time work for their committee. Since 11th November the number of insurance practitioners on panels in England who have been notified to the Commissioners by the War Office up to 21st February as definitely released from service is 647.
In reply to the last paragraph of the question, I must remind the hon. Member that the responsibility for arranging with the Military, Naval, and Air Force authorities for the demobilisation of doctors needed for the civil population rests with the Ministry of National Service. My Department makes periodical representation to that Department for expediting the rate of release of doctors for civil needs and for securing the release of particular doctors required for specially urgent necessities in individual areas. The Commissioners are in constant communication with the various insurance committees as to the needs of their areas in this respect. I am sending the hon. Member copies of circulars addressed to these committees, which will explain the procedure adopted since the Armistice.