§ Viscount WOLMERasked the estimated cost of the Insurance Commissioners and the staff of the Insurance Office to be instituted under the National Insurance Bill?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEAny such estimate must necessarily be very conjectural. The closest figure at which I have been able to arrive after a consideration of the duties of the Commissioners is from £75,000 to £100,000.
§ Sir PHILIP MAGNUSHow many commissioners does the right hon. Gentleman contemplate appointing?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI answered a similar question the other week. I think it would be undesirable at the present stage to make up our minds on that point until, at any rate, we have got the Bill partly through Committee. It depends very largely upon the view the House takes as to, I will not say the interests that ought to be represented, but the class of experts who ought to be on. I think it is better not to make up our minds until we have made some progress with the Bill in Committee.
§ Lord BALCARRESCan the right hon. Gentleman give some indication of the personnel immediately required, apart from the commissioners, in view of the fact that 6,300 schemes will have to be prepared before next May?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGECertainly, if the Noble Lord will put a question down. It is very difficult to deal with all these matters in the time at our disposal for answering questions. I shall be happy during the course of the discussion in Committee to give an answer on the point if he will give me notice.