HC Deb 15 July 1937 vol 326 cc1484-6
60. Mr. Leonard

asked the Minister of Health the number of employers interviewed in 1936 by his insepctors as defaulters in fixing insurance stamps on their employés' cards; the loss of benefit sustained by employés because of this; and the number of prosecutions made for recovery?

Sir K. Wood

635,814 employers were visited by my inspectors during 1936 in the ordinary course of their duties under the National Health Insurance Act but no separate record is kept of the number of cases where default in the payment of contributions was discovered. In the large majority of cases there were no irregularities or only irregularities of a minor character. No statistics are available which would enable me to answer the second part of the hon. Member's question, but every case brought to my notice is fully investigated and, where appropriate, legal proceedings are instituted for the recovery of the unpaid contributions. With regard to the third part of the question, the number of prosecutions during 1936 was 2,139.

Mr. Leonard

Does not the right hon. Gentleman consider that, in view of the hardship this must entail upon employés in such circumstances, it is high time that the Department had statistics covering this matter, and will he not also consider the desirability of relieving employés from this hardship, in view of the fact that they must surrender the cards to their employers?

Sir K. Wood

I appreciate what the hon. Member says, but I think that it may be said generally that there is a practically universal compliance with the provisions of the Act. It is only in exceptional cases that payments are not made, and as the hon. Member will see from the answer, in cases where it is considered necessary, we prosecute.

Captain Strickland

Seeing that there are so few of these cases, does not the Minister think that provision might be made to reinstate those employés who suffer through no fault of their own?

Sir K. Wood

That has been very fully discussed from time to time, and there are many difficulties.

Mr. Mathers

Where prosecutions are successful, do the widows of the men who have been disqualified because of failure on the part of their employers to stamp their cards, receive the pensions, as is their right, because of the contributions made?

Sir K. Wood

I would not like to answer a general question of that kind. Of course, in many cases payments are received.