MAJORITY REPORT. 
161 
benefits, and as the greater efficiency of the treatment would in 
the long run tend to conserve the Benefit Funds, we think it only 
fair that a substantial proportion of the cost of the Regional 
Dental staff, if it is established, should, as in the case of the 
Regional Medical staff, be borne by the Approved Societies 
concerned. 
SECTION C.—EXTENSION OF MEDICAL BENEFIT TO 
THE DEPENDANTS OF INSURED PERSONS. 
THE QUESTION OF COST. 
366. Two important and independent considerations arise 
when we approach this problem. In the first place there is the 
question of cost, which on any reasonably safe assumptions must 
be very considerable and must necessarily at this stage be 
dependent upon a number of factors difficult to estimate with 
any accuracy. 
367. The terms upon which the medical profession would be 
prepared to undertake the service would necessarily have to be 
a matter of negotiation, and it might happen that if an initial 
rate were agreed actual experience might lead to a demand for 
its revision. Such an extension of medical benefit would bring 
in two classes of persons who require to be considered separately, 
(1) the uninsured wives of insured men, and (2) children up to 
the age of entry into insurance. Broadly speaking, married 
women may be expected to require more attendances than the 
average of insured men. Children up to the age of about three 
would also require more attendances than men ; but children from 
three to sixteen would probably require considerably less, partly 
because many of the ailments of most frequent occurrence during 
school ages are those for which provision is made through other 
Health Services, e.g., infectious diseases and the minor ailments 
dealt with by the School Medical Service. In any event, the 
doctors would not have to undertake any certification duties in 
the case of dependants. 
368. From investigations made by the Ministry of Labour 
it would appear that for every insured man the number of depen- 
dants is on the average 1-5, and for every insured woman 15, 
making the total number of dependants 15% millions, or slightly 
more than the total number of insured persons. We may divide 
these dependants into the two groups indicated by the conclusions 
in the preceding paragraph (1) children above the age of three, 
and (2) children under the age of three and uninsured married 
women. In the former group the amount of medical attendance 
which would be required would be less than the average for in- 
sured persons generally, while in the latter it would be more. On 
the whole, it would not be unfair to assume that the doctors 
could afford to take the risk of all the dependants at the present