§ 83. Sir G. STRICKLANDasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can state the additional cost, per cent., of overhead charges that would be incurred if the insurance scheme in the Budget were made optional instead of compulsory; and on what sanction he relies for obtaining regular payments of compulsory contributions?
§ Sir K. WOODI have been asked to reply. In the absence of any means of calculating how many persons would avail themselves of an optional scheme, it is not possible to give the figure desired by my hon. Friend. In any event, an optional scheme of insurance for widows and old age pensions would be impracticable for reasons which my right hon. Friend will explain in the course of the Debate on the Bill. As to the latter part of the question, my right hon. Friend sees no difficulty in relying on the same sanctions for payment of contributions as those now adopted in the case of National Health Insurance.