§ Mr. PAGETasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the inmates of Homes of Mercy or other philanthropic institutions in which they receive a training and are given free board and lodging will be employed persons within the meaning of the National Insurance Bill, and whether, under Clause 2, Sub-section 1, they will be entitled to a certificate of exemption during their stay in such institutions; and, if they will not be so entitled, will he consider the advisibility of inserting in the Bill a Clause to relieve the institutions of the obligation to insure their inmates, which would be a heavy addition to their annual expenditure?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI do not think these persons would be entitled to a certificate of exemption. With regard to their position I will refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for South Salford last Tuesday. I may perhaps add that there is a manifest objection to unnecessarily excluding persons not otherwise provided for from the National Health Insurance since those so excluded may come into insurance in later life and bring with them heavy risks to be borne by the whole body of contributors.