Mr. CATHCART WASONasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the anxiety in the Highlands and Islands with reference to the Report of the Committee on the medical service, he will say when it is likely he will be able to make a statement?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI fear I cannot give a definite date, but I hope to be able to make a statement shortly.
§ Mr. GRANTasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what practical steps beyond making inquiries he has caused to be taken to give immediate alleviation or mitigation of the suffering that members of approved societies are actually undergoing through being deprived of the continuance of their treatment at hospitals, such treatment being unfinished, and who, moreover, are prevented from obtaining treatment from doctors on the panels on account of the non-issue by approved societies of the membership tickets to which these insured individuals are entitled; and will he say if his attention has been already called to such cases?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI am not aware of any cases in which approved societies have994W failed to issue medical tickets to their members who are entitled to them, or that hospitals are refusing to give treatment to persons who are not in a position to apply for it under the Act, on the ground that they are insured.
§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the proceedings at the inquest on the body of Thomas Butler at Mile End, especially to the evidence showing that the deceased man had been deprived of medical benefit under the National Insurance Act through the failure of his employer, Mr. Alfred Waterman, a second-hand bootmaker, of Hoxton Street, to pay the contributions required by the Act on behalf of the deceased; and what action, if any, he proposes taking in the matter?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI am inquiring into the case, and will notify my hon. Friend of the result. I should, however, remind him that all insured persons entitled to receive medical benefit under the Act, who were members of approved societies on 15th January, have been entitled to medical benefit since that date, irrespective of the number of stamps on their card.