§ Mr. C. BATHURSTasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether 7½d. only per insured person is now available to county councils for the provision of sanatorium benefit after the deduction of 1½d. for administration?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe whole sum of 1s. 3d. is available for sanatorium benefit, of which 6d. will be allocated to domiciliary treatment of patients recommended for such benefit. The proportion of this sum to be allotted to expenses of administration is not yet determined.
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is now proposed to provide sanatorium treatment for all poor persons suffering from tuberculosis, one-fifth only of whom are insured persons, under the National Insurance Act; and, if so, whether the whole or, alternatively, one-half of the cost involved will be defrayed out of the Imperial Exchequer?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThe statement in the hon. Member's question is misleading. The number of insured persons and their dependents in a short time will probably include more than four-fifths of the total number of persons suffering from tuberculosis in this country. All these may receive treatment under the National Insurance Act. The Government have promised assistance to the local authorities in dealing with the treatment of tuberculosis amongst the remainder of the population, and the exact form of that assistance is still under consideration with the representatives of those authorities.