§ Mr. Grovesasked the Minister of Health whether he has yet decided upon the body to be consulted under the National Health Insurance Medical Benefit Amendment Regulations (No. 3), 1939, and what that body is to be; and what steps he has taken to satisfy himself that the body is representative of the general body of insurance practitioners?
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§ Mr. ElliotThe body which I propose to consult is the Insurance Acts Committee of the British Medical Association, which is the body authorised by the conference of local medical and panel committees to represent their views on matters arising out of their statutory functions.
§ Mr. Grovesasked the Minister of Health whether he has ensured that the effect of the National Health Insurance Medical Benefit Amendment Regulations (No. 4), 1939, will be not to interfere with the free choice of doctors by insured persons; and whether he consulted insurance committees, local medical and panel committees, approved societies or any other body before the amendment regulations were prepared?
§ Mr. ElliotI am satisfied that the regulations to which the hon. Member refers do not infringe the principle of the free choice of doctors by insured persons. I consulted the Insurance Acts Committee of the British Medical Association and the National Association of Insurance Committees before making the regulations.