§ 56. Mr. McGovernasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it is the intention of the Government of Palestine to introduce any measures of social reform, such as unemployment and health insurance, children's clinics, etc., for general health improvement?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreIn 1932 the Labour Legislation Committee appointed by the High Commissioner for Palestine considered that the introduction of compulsory health insurance would be premature as large sections of the labouring population, especially Arabs, are ununorganised, and among them legislation of this kind would be inoperative. The Palestine Government is still of the opinion that any such measure should be deferred until its general success can be more definitely assured. Similar considerations apply to the question of compulsory unemployment insurance. The Palestine Government endeavours to arrange its public works programme to meet the needs of relief in the event of any section of the population suffering from unemployment. As regards public health, the Palestine Department of Health is providing for the expansion of existing special health services, such as maternity and child welfare, the teaching of hygiene, ophthalmic services, etc. Anti-malarial measures are maintained at a high level of efficiency, and apart from a very complete Jewish infant welfare service, to which the Government pays an annual subvention, there are 20 infant welfare centres maintained by Government, principally in towns, open to all communities, and 10 Government infant welfare clinics in purely Arab villages.
§ Mr. McGovernIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that unemployment and health insurance is largely borne by Jewish wage earners, and does he not think that it is a discreditable thing that the duties of the Government have to be shouldered by the working class section of the population out of their scanty wages?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreI understand that Jewish workers' wages are higher than 1145 Arab wages. The question is whether the Government should apply compulsory health and unemployment insurance to the Arab people.
§ Mr. McGovernThe working classes—
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Member is giving information.
§ Mr. McGovernI am making suggestions.
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Member must not make suggestions at Question Time.
§ Mr. McGovernI want to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he will make representations to see that the catering of the social services is made in order to assist the Arabs, who are mostly in need of social reform.
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreI agree that the Arab population needs social reform. If the hon. Member has any suggestions to make, I should be glad if he would make them to me so that I can consider them, rather than putting questions in Parliament.