261) 
og a 
MAJORITY REPORT. 
that proportion of the excessive sickness which could properly 
be attributed to any particular cause from among the many 
which might be operative, and so to enforce the penalty con- 
templated in the Section. 
635. A further difficulty, we are advised, would arise in the 
ascertainment of the normal sickness experience of any area, and 
without such data it would not. of course, be possible {io calculate 
the amount of the excess. 
636. A few witnesses have given evidence before us as to the 
possible utility of the section in the future. Sir Wm. Glyn Jones 
refers (Q. 24,423) to the high intentions underlying the section, 
and suggests that work of the nature contemplated could use- 
fully be undertaken by the local authorities. He also suggests 
that the cost of the work should be borne by rates and taxes, 
and that the Insurance medical records should be used for thi 
purpose. The National Association of Trade Union Approved 
Societies (App. XCII, 122; Q. 22,056) suggest that the 
section should be retained as it may prove to be more prac- 
ticable as the Scheme of National Health Insurance develops. 
The British Medical Association suggest (App. XLVII, 54; 
¢. 15,313, 15,317-15,323) that Approved Societies should be 
required to keep records on a territorial basis so as to assist in any 
investigation into prevalent illnesses in any particular area. 
637. While we are convinced that the Section as it stands is 
incapable of effective application, we think that insurance data 
would undoubtedly prove of great value in connexion with any 
investigation into local health conditions, provided that any 
power to make inquiry intc the causes of excessive sickness were 
exercised by the body responsible for the local administration of 
medical benefit and other health services. 
638. We have accordingly come to the conclusion that the 
penal provisions directed against the local authority or the em- 
ployer are useless as a means to further the end which the 
section has in view and that they should accordingly be 
eliminated. But we think that the bodies responsible for the 
local administration of Medical Benefit to insured persons should 
be given power to institute inquiry into cases of excessive sick- 
ness brought to their notice, and that for this purpose they should 
have access to the medical records collected under the Health 
Insurance Scheme. 
639. In our opinion such inquiries need not necessarily be 
formal in character and indeed they would probably gain in 
fruitfulness by remaining informal. We consider that the powers 
suggested should merely be among the normal functions of the 
authority.