§ 10. Mr. HARRY LAWSONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what basis and on what actuarial calculation he arrived at the amount of £200, stated by him in his speech at Aberdeen, which he said the blacksmith, then under treatment at the London Hospital, would receive in return for his contribution of 4s. 8d. under the National Insurance Act?
§ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Lloyd George)The amount referred to was calculated according to the average cost of sanatorium treatment paid up to that date by the Middlesex Insurance Committee and to the period of treatment estimated to be necessary in this particular case.
§ Mr. HARRY LAWSONIs the Chancellor of the Exchequer aware that the Middlesex Insurance Committee have not paid a single penny up to the present date, and that the only rate was 10s. a week? If that is so, what time would be required to work out the £200?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThe hon. Gentleman is asking me a question without notice, but my information, which I got from the Committee itself, was that they were contracting to pay 35s. a week.
§ Mr. HARRY LAWSONWill the right hon. Gentleman inquire of the London Hospital?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI never said it was paid to the London Hospital. What I said was that the patient could not be kept in the London Hospital much longer, and that other arrangements would have to be made. I reckoned that those arrangements would cost the same in that case as in other cases, and the cost in other cases was 35s. a week. As a matter of fact, we have secured accommodation at less.
Mr. WORTHINGTON-EVANSDocs the right hon. Gentleman remember how long he expected this man to be under treatment?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGESpeaking without notice, I think it was two years.