§ 62. Mr. T. SMITHasked the Minister of Health the number of insured persons under the National Health Insurance Acts who will lose their medical benefit at the end of the present year, and the total number who will be affected by the medical benefit provisions of the National Health Insurance Act, 1932?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREIt is impossible to furnish the information desired by the hon. Member, as the figures will depend upon the number of persons now unemployed who succeed in securing employment before the end of the present year and the number who exercise their right to become voluntary contributors. My right hon. Friend may, however, refer the hon. Member to the Report of the 1684 Government Actuary on the Bill of 1932, of which he is sending him a copy.
§ Mr. SMITHIs the Minister aware that there will be terrible hardship felt among thousands of people in connection with this matter, and cannot the Government reconsider it?
Viscountess ASTORCan we have an assurance before the House breaks up that the Government have some plan to deal with the enormous number of juvenile unemployed, which is bound to rise in the next few years? This is one of the most vital questions before the country to-day.