§ 12. Mr. BOOTHasked if schemes for the formation of State-managed societies dealing specially with married women and with other selected classes of insured persons are in course of preparation; and when the House will be taken into the confidence of the Government?
§ Mr. WEDGWOOD BENN (Lord of the Treasury)The answer is in the negative.
§ 13. Mr. BOOTHasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Commissioners of National Health Insurance are still considering the formation of a State-managed 1683 society for a portion of the deposit contributors; and if the promised consultation with existing societies has yet taken place, and with what result?
§ Mr. W. BENNThe Commissioners have conferred with the Advisory Committee on the subject of the future of deposit contributors, which is still under consideration.
§ Mr. BOOTHMay I ask my hon. Friend, in consulting the Advisory Committee, to see to it that it shall not consist entirely of representatives of approved societies?
§ Mr. W. BENNConsultation with the Advisory Committee is certainly a consultation with authorised representatives of approved societies.
§ Mr. BOOTHIs not my hon. Friend aware that the Advisory Committee is not an assembly of approved societies, but includes members of county committees and employers of labour, and can in no sense be regarded as an assembly of approved societies?
§ Mr. W. BENNAll I said was that on the Advisory Committee approved societies are authoritatively represented, and that is so.
§ Mr. BOOTHWhat reply did the representatives of approved societies on that Advisory Committee give to the Government?
§ Mr. W. BENNI cannot say anything about what transpired. I simply say a consultation took place.
§ Mr. CHIOZZA MONEYMay I express the hope that His Majesty's Government will above all remember the pledge given to revise the position of the deposit contributors?