Mr. FRED HALL (Dulwich)asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, according to the letter sent by his instructions to a correspondent, from which it appears that all the insurance contributions will be returned to the contributor in the shape of benefits, every person coming under the Act, irrespective of the amount of sickness, etc., to which he may be subject, will receive back in some shape or other all contributions made on his account; and, if so, will he say how the expenses of administering the Act will be met 957 as regards persons subject to an abnormal amount of sickness, consistently with such persons receiving the full advantages which it is stated the Act secures to them?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEContributors as a whole will certainly receive in benefits the full value of all sums paid by them or on their behalf by employers and the State apart from the necessary expenses of administration. The letter to which the hon. Member refers contains no such obviously absurd statement that each contributor will receive back in benefits all contributions made on his account, irrespective of the amount of sickness, etc., to which he may be subject.
Mr. F. HALLMay I draw the attention of the right hon. Gentleman to the words in the letter in which he stated "all the contributions would be returned to the contributors in benefits"?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI certainly did not use the words irrespective of the amount of sickness, etc.
Mr. F. HALLMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman a further question: whether a record will be kept of any increase of unemployment arising from the unwillingness of employers to engage persons except those who are certified by—
§ Mr. SPEAKERNotice should be given of the question.