§ Colonel DAYasked the Minister of Health whether he is prepared to provide contributions from the funds available under the National Health Insurance Act towards district nursing associations employing qualified midwives to attend insured persons, in view of the importance of these associations among health services?
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§ Mr. NEVILLE CHAMBERLAINAn approved society is entitled to devote part of its disposable surplus on valuation to making payments towards the cost of providing nursing for its members, and may also make subscriptions or donations from its benefit fund for the support of district nurses. There is not, however, any provision in the National Health Insurance Act for the making of payments for the specific purpose of securing the attendance of midwives on insured women at confinement, and before considering the desirability of amending legislation in this direction I must await the Report of the Royal Commission on National Health Insurance.