§ 17. Mr. RHYS DAVIESasked the Minister of Health what is the procedure adopted by his department to make sure that every compulsorily insured person, especially in the case of domestic servants, is brought within the scope of the National Health Insurance Scheme?
§ The MINISTER of HEALTH (Sir Hilton Young)The enforcement of compliance with the National Health Insurance Acts is secured by visits of inspectors to employer' premises and by the 1995 investigation of complaints, supplemented, where necessary, by legal proceedings. As regards domestic servants, although inspectors have no statutory right of entry to private houses, action is taken in all cases where information suggesting non-compliance is received from employed persons or their Approved Societies.
§ Mr. DAVIESHas the right hon. Gentleman any reason to believe that employers, owing to the economic depression, are not carrying out the law in this respect?
§ Sir H. YOUNGI have no evidence of any increase in the number of breaches of the law.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENWill the Minister take steps to release domestic servants from the burden of this Act? Does he not know that no employer can call in a panel doctor for his servant if he needs him?
§ 19. Mr. BATEYasked the Minister of Health the separate amounts paid by the employers, the employés, and the Treasury to the National Health Insurance Fund for the year 1931 or the latest available date?
§ Sir H. YOUNGThe contributions paid under the National Health Insurance Acts for the year ended 31st December, 1931, amounted to approximately £25,870,000, of which the portions payable by the employers and employés are estimated to be £13,150,000 and £12,720,000 respectively. The amount paid from the Exchequer was £6,320,000.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENIn view of the universal execration in which this Act is held, could not the Minister save money by abolishing it?