§ Mr. CASSELasked the President of the Local Government Board what sums had up to the 1st January, 1913, been granted for the provision of sanatoria and other institutions for the treatment of tuberculosis under the National Insurance Act, 1911, in England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, respectively?
§ Mr. BURNSThe Local Government Board are only concerned with the distribution of the capital Grant in England. No capital Grants have been actually distributed towards buildings, but the Board are negotiating with many local authorities in regard to schemes, and in some cases the arrangements have so far advanced as to enable the Board to promise Grants subject to the concurrence of the Treasury.
§ Mr. CASSELasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that Percy R. Darken, of 223, Clarence Buildings, N.W., being an insured person, was duly recommended for treatment for tuberculosis in his home; that the doctor having charge of the case ordered supplementary diet and bedding and daily visits by a nurse as absolutely essential for the treatment of the case; that the Committee declined to supply these necessaries and, through their clerk, informed the doctor that the treatment ordered by him could not be supplied but must be obtained from the local authority, or the man must be sent to the infirmary; that for some time the treatment ordered was supplied by charity, and that the patient died on 7th January, 1913; and whether he will take 2086W steps to see that persons entitled to sanatorium benefit receive the necessaries ordered as being essential by the doctor?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe order for special bedding and other articles for the patient referred to was rather a substantial one, and some of the items required examination to see whether they were really ancillary to his treatment within the limits imposed by the Act. The committee did not decline to supply him with the articles in question, and their cost, amounting to about £10, is being defrayed by the London Insurance Committee.