§ Mr. Harveyasked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fact that free maintenance in hospital has been extended to tubercular patients and of the importance of encouraging sufferers from cancer to seek early treatment, a similar provision can be made in their case?
§ Mr. E. BrownThe distinction in regard to payment for hospital treatment between infectious diseases (of which tuberculosis is one) and non-infectious diseases (of which cancer is one) is a matter of statutory requirement. In deciding whether any charge should be made in an individual case of the latter type local authorities are authorised to have regard to the financial circumstances of the individual, and I have no reason to suppose that individuals are deterred from undertaking treatment by any difficulties on this account.