§ Mr. JOHN REDMONDasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can now make any statement as to the further financial assistance to be placed at the disposal of the National Health Insurance Commissioners (Ireland) for the purpose of 2663W enabling medical certificates to be obtained under the National Insurance Act in Ireland?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI have been in communication with my hon. Friend and his colleagues and also with the Irish Insurance Commissioners on this subject, and I am satisfied that the Grant of £50,000 at present available for expenses due to the absence of medical benefit in Ireland is insufficient to provide for adequate arrangements for certification. The Insurance Commissioners are engaged in negotiation with the medical profession and with the approved societies, and, if a scheme can be devised which is satisfactory to the parties concerned, I shall be prepared to ask Parliament to increase the Grant by such amount as may be necessary, subject to the limit of 2s. 6d. per insured person which has been imposed in Great Britain not being exceeded in Ireland.
§ Mr. MORTONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will advise the Treasury to take the two-thirds guarantee towards extending the telegraph to Elphin and Assynt, Sutherland?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI am not in a position to add anything to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General gave on Tuesday last in answer to a similar question.