§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREasked what will be the additional cost of the Welsh Commissioners and of the administration of Welsh contributions under Clause 76 of the National Insurance Bill; whether the Treasury will establish the Welsh Office in North or South Wales; whether he will give the House the names of the Welsh Commissioners before the House loses control of the Bill; and whether he has been actuarialy advised that Wales will gain financially by the separation of the Welsh 398 and English funds, or whether the average sickness in Wales is higher or lower than the average sickness in England?
In putting this question, may I ask where is the Chancellor of the Exchequer?
Mr. McKINNON WOODThat is a question which I do not feel called upon to answer. The additional cost of the Welsh Commissioners and their staff may be roughly estimated at £5,000 to £6,000. I am not yet in a position to answer the second question. I will try to comply with the request made in the third question. The answer to the fourth question is in the negative. As regards the last question, average sickness in Wales is higher than average sickness in England.
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREAm I to take it from that negative answer that it is a fact that Wales will not gain by the separation of the fund? And may I ask also whether the Chancellor of the Exchequer received the representation from the General Federation of Trades Unions protesting against the separation of Wales and England?
Mr. McKINNON WOODI think notice ought to be given of the latter part of the question, but with regard to the other part I think it must be obvious that any separation must entail some expenditure.
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREMay I ask whether the whole additional cost of £5,000 or £6,000 a year will fall upon the Welsh contributors, or will it be paid by the State?
§ Mr. WATTIs there any truth in the rumour that the Welsh, Scotch, and Irish Commissioners are not to be appointed, and that that system is to be abandoned?
Mr. WORTHINGTON-EVANSWill the right hon. Gentleman say whether he has been advised as to whether Wales will gain or lose by the separation?
Mr. McKINNON WOODI answered that question. I pointed out separation must involve necessarily a little additional expenditure.
Mr. WORTHINGTON-EVANSWill the additional expenditure be Treasury expenditure or will it come out of the Insurance fund for Wales?
Mr. McKINNON WOODThere must be some Treasury expenditure, but, of course, other parts of the expenditure must come out of the funds of the Commissioners.
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREWill the cost of the Welsh Central Office come out of the funds provided by Imperial expenditure?
Mr. McKINNON WOODThat is the question the hon. Member asked me a few minutes ago, and to which I replied.
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREasked whether, in view of the whole day having been given to the discussion of the establishment of separate Scottish Commissioners and a separate Scottish fund under the National Insurance Bill, he will secure that there shall be some time given for the discussion of Clause 76, establishing a separate Commission and fund for Wales, which was passed with eighteen other new Clauses without any discussion or explanation?
Mr. McKINNON WOODIt does not rest with my right hon. Friend to allocate among the various topics arising under the Bill the time given for discussion by the Resolution of the House.