§ 22. Mr. FFRENCHasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he is aware that the doctors of Wexford town and county have refused to sign certificates under the National Insurance Act, 1911, for employed contributors under that Act who are sick because no satisfactory arrangements have been made with the doctors by the Commissioners for their remuneration; will he say whether the Commissioners have power to sanction proper remuneration for the doctors for the supplying of the certificates; and, seeing that under this Act the poor people who are sick cannot obtain relief until these certificates are furnished every week by the doctors, will he say what steps the Commissioners intend to take to prevent a deadlock in the county Wexford?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe Irish Commissioners have no information to the effect that the doctors of Wexford have refused to sign certificates for employed contributors claiming sickness benefit. Societies are not bound to require medical certificates as evidence of sickness for the purpose of giving sickness benefit, and the alternatives which may be adopted under their rules are fully explained in the Approved Societies' Handbook which has recently been issued to all societies and branches in Ireland. A further circular calling special attention to these alternatives is being issued in addition to all societies and branches.