§ Mr. Grovesasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the York local medical war committee has notified doctors in its areas that the wives and families of men in the Forces are in some cases unable to afford medical attention and are, therefore, forced to apply to the relieving officer for treatment by the Poor Law medical officers and proposes to compile a list of doctors who are willing to give free treatment to such persons; and whether he will now take the necessary action to provide a medical service for such dependants and so relieve them of having to apply to the relieving officer, as this, it is stressed by the York local medical war committee, is often felt to be a stigma?
Mr. M. MacDonaldI am inquiring into the matter referred to in the first part of the Question. As regards the second part, the question of providing free medical treatment for the dependants of members of the Armed Forces has been examined in consultation with the Service Departments, and I cannot add anything to the full statement made by my right hon. Friend the Member for Midlothian, North (Mr. Colville), when he was Secretary of State for Scotland on 23rd April. 1940.