46. Mr. ROBINSONasked the Prime Minister if he will consider the desirability of establishing a Ministry of Social Insurance which should deal with health and pension insurance, unemployment insurance, the payment of Civil Service pensions, and the award of service and disability pensions in respect of service in the forces, in view of the possibility of effecting economy by this co-ordination of social pension service?
§ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Churchill)The whole problem of the distribution of the business of Government Departments is constantly under review; and His Majesty's Government would not hesitate to adopt any scheme of reorganisation which might be expected to lead to greater efficiency and economy of administration. But such schemes, if they are be successful, must be introduced at the right moment; and whatever view might be taken of the advantages of the particular rearrangement suggested in the hon. Member's question, I do not think that changes could profitably be contemplated at the present time, in the existing pressure of public business.