146

MAJORITY REPORT.

CHAPTER XII

CONSIDERATION OF CERTAIN MAJOR PROBLEMS.

327. Our proposals up to this point have absorbed the financial
resources which we consider to be available for extensions of any
magnitude, viz., the margin in the contribution not actuarially
required to support the statutory benefits and the proceeds of
the scheme for partial pooling of surpluses which we have
proposed in Chapter IX. We now pass on to consider six questions
 of substantial importance. Some of these do not involve
large financial considerations, others do; and where such large
financial considerations are in question, we are for that very
reason compelled to advise delay in making fundamental changes.
328. The six problems dealt with in sections of this Chapter,
are as follows :—
SEoTION A.—The extension and consolidation of the
maternity services ;
B.—The promotion of dental benefit to the status
of a complete and generally available benefit ;
C.—The provision of medical benefit to the
dependants of insured persons;
D.—The transfer of the powers and duties of
Insurance Committees to the Tiocal
Authorities ;
E.—The improvement of the position of deposit
contributors who cannot secure admission to
Approved Societies ; and
F.—The remuneration of the insurance practitioners
 and the machinery for dealing with
complaints against them.

a

We take these problems in that order.

SECTION A—MATERNITY SERVICES

329. In Chapter V we have considered at some length the
general problems of a maternity service, especially on its medical
side, and have reviewed the evidence which has been placed
before us. We have indicated the direction in which we think
such a service should develop so that on the one hand all the
medical provision will become an integral part of a co-ordinated
medical service; and on the other the money benefit will take
ils place among the cash provisions under whatever system of
insurance is then in being.