53. Lieut.-Colonel SANDEMAN ALLENasked the Minister of Health whether when allocating the £500,000 to the distressed areas, he will take into account the number of displaced national health insurance contributors, owing to non-prolongation, and the consequential additional drain upon the Poor Law authorities in the distressed areas?
Sir H. YOUNGAs indicated in the reply given on the 18th July to the hon. Member for Normanton (Mr. T. Smith), the numbers of persons in the several areas who will cease to be insured under the National Health Insurance Acts at the end of the present year cannot be known for some time, but I have no reason to think that the introduction of this factor, if it were practicable, would have any material effect on the allocation of the grant.
Captain CROOKSHANKIs there any truth in the report that my right hon. Friend is intending to alter the system of allocation which he announced in the House some weeks ago?