§ Mr. Grovesasked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fact that the contracts between insurance committees and medical practitioners apply only to persons with the income limit of £250 per annum, he will introduce a new contract and consider whether medical practitioners shall then have the right to decline to enter into a new contract covering the extended income limit?
Mr. BrownI am advised that as the form of contract between medical practitioners and insurance committees does not contain a reference to an income limit, it is not necessary to introduce a new contract. A practitioner is entitled to withdraw from the medical list of an insurance committee by giving the necessary notice.
§ Mr. Grovesasked the Minister of Health the amounts allocated by his Department to each item of service on the occasion of the court of inquiry or arbitration, when 9s. per insured person per annum as fixed, as the capitation fee payable to medical practitioners; and what is the present amount?
Mr. BrownThe insurance doctor's capitation fee was not precisely calculated by reference to a definite rate of payment for each item of service. I am accordingly unable to give the particulars asked for.