§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Minister of Health whether, as the National Health Insurance Act, 1924, requires that he shall exercise his judicial powers in particular cases through special tribunals, he will state whether the committees of inquiry set up to consider whether or no the continuance of a practitioner on the medical list: would be prejudicial to the service are such tribunals; and what other tribunals have been prescribed under Section 91 (c) of that Act?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe Inquiry Committees in question are appointed in accordance with Regulations made under Section 24 (2) of the National Health Insurance Act, 1924, and are not governed by the provisions of Section 91 of that Act. Regulations made under Section 91 provide for the submission of disputes of the kind referred to in Section 90 to a special body of referees. Apart from the body of referees constituted for this purpose no tribunals have been set up under Section 91.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that a considerable section of insurance practitioners desire to be given a general right of appeal in the courts against his decisions; that this desire was recently voiced by a public conference of delegates representing not less than 5,000 practitioners: whether he has refused to receive a deputation from that conference; and what steps he is taking to allay the widespread feeling of discontent which underlies the desire in question?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, I have received the resolutions passed at722W the meeting to which the hon. and gallant Member refers, though I cannot share his estimate of its representative character. The reply to the third part of the question is in the affirmative and the reason is that I have already discussed the matter with the Insurance Acts Committee of the British Medical Association, which represents the general body of insurance practitioners. As regards the last part, this question is engaging the attention of the Royal Commission on Health Insurance and I do not propose to take any action pending their Report.