§ Mr. NEWTONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he is aware that the only gentleman whose name appeared on the panel of chemists for Dovercourt, Essex, at the time of the coming into operation of the National Insurance Act had then and still has no dispensary and no drugs to dispense, and, moreover, refuses to dispense or to supply drugs; whether the gentleman in question made any application to have his name put on the panel, and, if so, when and to whom was the application made; whether it is necessary for any forms or papers to be filled up and signed by a person desiring or consenting to be put on the panel; if so, which of such forms were so filled up and signed by the gentleman referred to; whether it is intended to take any steps to secure for the Dovercourt district a panel of chemists able and willing to dispense; whether steps will forthwith be taken in the interests of insured persons to remove from all panels of chemists the names of a gentleman not in a position to dispense or supply drugs; and (2) whether the insurance committee for Dovercourt, Essex, reported to the Insurance Commissioners, in accordance with the directions contained in Memorandum 132/lc, the number of acceptances received from chemists, etc.; when such report was made; how many acceptances did such report notify; whether the committee in such report expressed their opinion as to the adequacy of that number for the service of the area; and whether the Commissioners considered the circumstances satisfactory, and immediately authorised the committee to proceed to print their lists of chemists for circulation in the manner indicated in paragraph 23 of Memorandum 131/lc?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI am informed by the Essex Insurance Committee that there is no separate panel for Dovercourt; that the gentleman referred to in the question 1519W was placed on the first list as he had accepted the invitation to join the panel, but that as he has not signed the formal agreement required to be signed by persons desiring to supply medicines for insured persons, his name will be taken off the revised list, which is now in proof. The Essex Insurance Committee reported the number of acceptances received from chemists, etc., on the 1st January. This report showed eleven acceptances for the rural district of Tendring, in which Dovercourt is situated. As this number appeared to be adequate for the services of that district, the Commissioners authorised the committee to proceed with the necessary arrangements. An additional chemist has now joined the, panel, and there are at the present moment eleven chemists in the Tendring Rural District, including one in Harwich, of which Dovercourt is practically a suburb, and the committee are of opinion that insured persons living in Dovercourt will, therefore, have no difficulty in obtaining medicine.