46. Miss WARDasked the Minister of Health when legislation will be introduced to deal with persons whose rights under National Health Insurance have expired?
Sir H. YOUNGI hope to be in a position to make a statement on this subject within the next two or three weeks.
§ 47. Miss RATHBONEasked the Minister of Health what would be the approximate cost to the State of providing dependants allowances for the wives and children of persons insured under national health insurance upon the basis recommended by the Report of the Royal Commission on National Health Insurance, 1926, or upon any other basis for which estimates are available; what, if any, would be the increase in workers and employers' contributions made necessary; and what would be the cost of dependants' allowances on the same scale if the State bore the entire cost?
Sir H. YOUNGThe only available information on the subject referred to by the hon. Member is contained in the second report of the departmental actuarial committee to the Royal Commission on National Health Insurance, which is to be found on page 376 of the Report of the Commission. In so far as the whole of the information desired by the hon. Member cannot be obtained from this source, a lengthy investigation by the Government actuary would be required and I am afraid that I should 543 not be justified in asking him to undertake this at the present time.
§ Miss RATHBONEWill the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to furnish a statement of the total cost on the basis of the Royal Commission's figures, because I think I am right in stating that no ground as to the cost was given in the report?