HC Deb 30 May 1935 vol 302 cc1283-5
29. Mr. SUTCLIFFE

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the National Health Insurance Bill now before the House, he intends to make known to each one of the 200,000 persons affected thereby exactly what is proposed; and, if so, what steps to that end are being taken?

Sir H. YOUNG

Considerable publicity has been given through the Press and otherwise to the proposals contained in the Bill now before the House, and in particular I am satisfied that they are now well known to approved societies, through whom the insured persons affected can obtain information with regard to the proposals. In the event of the Bill becoming law steps will be taken to ensure that its provisions are made known by the approved societies to all the insured persons concerned.

Mr. CAPORN

Will my right hon. Friend consider whether it will be possible to make that information available at the employment exchanges, so as to give wider publicity to it?

Sir H. YOUNG

I will certainly take all suggestions into consideration, but, as a matter of fact, the organisation in these matters of approved societies is so very efficient that I doubt whether any other steps are needed.

Mr. RHYS DAVIES

Is it not a fact that the approved societies do this automatically?

Sir H. YOUNG

That is really rather the effect of my previous reply. The organisation is extremely efficient for the purpose referred to.

Mr. LAWSON

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that people have suffered sufficiently under the 1932 Act that they ought to understand the mind of the Government?

Mr. DAVID GRENFELL

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that there is no representative of Wales on the consultative council under the National Health Insurance Act; and whether, in view of the special position obtainig in Wales owing to unemployment and trade depression, he will authorise the appointment of at least one qualified person from Wales to assist in the work in the council?

Sir H.YOUNG.

G: I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on the 13th December last to the hon. Member for Flintshire (Mr. Llewellyn-Jones). I 'would add that among the many members of the council who are associated 'with approved societies carrying on business in Wales is one who is resident in the Principality, has for many years taken a prominent part in the administration of national health insurance in Wales and is clerk to a Welsh insurance committee.

Mr. GRENFELL

Does he not occupy a semi-official position and is therefore not in a position, as a representative should be, freely to express Ms opinion to the Department or anywhere else?

Sir H. YOUNG

I do not think that that is a necessary consequence at all, but is rather a matter of argument.

Mr. GRENFELL

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a great deal of dissatisfaction in Wales owing to the absence of a Welsh representative; and is there any good reason why a representative from Wales should not be

Authority. Annual Instalment repayble. Annual repayment expressed in terms of rate poundage in 1934–35. Total amounts outstanding.
£ s. d. d. £ s. d.
Barnsley C.B.C. … … … 2,829 10 8 2.18 28,295 6 8
Barrow-in-Furness C.B.C. … … … 12,055 19 3 9.29 120,559 12 6
Brecon C.C. … … … 5,089 18 8 4.84 50,899 6 5
Derby C.C. … … … 866 18 8 0.08 8,669 6 8
Durham C.C. … … … 32,850 9 1 2.72 328,504 11 0
East Ham C.B.C. … … … 20,238 0 4 6.54 202,380 3 2
Essex C.C. … … … 49,285 18 4 1.48 492,859 2 10
Gateshead C.B.C. … … … 4,244 1 4 2.02 42,440 13 4
Glamorgan C.C. … … … 35,313 7 9 3.46 353,133 17 3
London C.C. … … … 16,700 0 0 0.07 167,000 0 0
Merthyr Tydfil C.B.C. … … … 7,324 0 0 8.72 73,240 0 0
Monmouth C.C. … … … 40,525 10 7 9.68 405,255 5 10
Sheffield C.B.C. … … … 60,809 1 6 5.33 608,090 14 6
South Shields C.B.C. … … … 3,175 18 8 1.62 31,759 6 8
West Ham.B.C. … … … 41,371 19 1 6.98 413,719 10 4
Yorks West Riding C.C. … … … 8,163 16 0 0.30 81,638 0 0
£3,408,444 17 2