Mr. WORTHINGTON-EVANSasked what the estimated cost per annum would be of granting to all sailors, marines, and soldiers during their service the following benefits, stating the cost of each separately, and giving the numbers of men in each class for which the estimate is made, namely, sickness benefit equivalent to hospital stoppage, when hospital stoppage is made, and sanatorium and maternity benefits as if they were members of an approved society under the Bill?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEA report dealing with the position of soldiers and sailors is in preparation, but it will not cover the precise points to which the hon. Member refers. In regard to them, I will remind him of the invitation which I gave yesterday to hon. Members who desire to obtain further actuarial information to confer with me privately on the subject.
Mr. WORTHINGTON-EVANSCan the right hon. Gentleman not give some report as to the actuarial information asked for in this question?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThat is an additional suggestion which the hon. Member is making. It may be found that the reply given by the actuaries actually covers what is asked for.
§ Mr. WARINGwas understood to ask whether the information could not be obtained from the actuaries.
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThe actuaries, I know, were very much pressed this morning in dealing with other questions and suggestions, but I think the information will be ready long before this question is reached.
Mr. WORTHINGTON-EVANSDoes not the data already exist, as supplied by the War Office and the Admiralty, and can we not have it now?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThe data is ready, but not in the form in which the questions ask for it.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSWill the information be printed?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI should have thought it would have been very much better if I could get a number of questions which the House as a whole would like an answer upon. Then I could have published the answers in the form of a supplement to the actuarial report. I really think it would be very much better for the House of Commons itself to get the information in that kind of way rather than get it in a scrappy and sporadic manner like this by question and answer. I can only submit that suggestion. If that were agreed to then I would be able to print a supplementary report.
§ Viscount HELMSLEYWhy should the Chancellor of the Exchequer be relieved from giving the information asked for?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThe Noble Lord is quite mistaken. Certainly I have 1118 shown no disposition to be relieved; and I again throw myself upon the House as a whole. I have given every possible information, and not only that, but, as the Noble Lord knows, I have invited questions outside the House as well as inside. I have gone out of my way to meet experts like those connected with friendly societies, who have sat for cross-examination, in regard to these matters for hours.
§ Mr. ASTORasked whether it is proposed, under Clause 36 (4) of the National Insurance Bill, that a soldier or sailor whoso health has broken down during service is to receive sick benefit at a lower rate than that given to a man whose health has not suffered?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThe sickness benefit under Clause 36 (4) is at a lower rate than for soldiers arid sailors who have good enough health to be able to join societies, or who before discharge were already members of societies. Perhaps I should point out that the Clause will apply to a class of persons for whom disablement benefit is likely to be much, more important than sickness benefit, and that full disablement benefit of 5s. a week is secured to them; moreover, temporary sickness up to the time of discharge is already provided for at the expense of the State.