§ 12. Sir Robert Youngasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the difficulties arising, or likely to arise, out of the failure to increase the income limit for compulsory health insurance to £420 a year, as has been done for compulsory unemployment insurance, as many insured persons, owing to transference to administrative and similar positions, or from the receipt of overtime payments, 270 are being forced to become voluntary contributors, entailing the loss of medical benefit and the payment of all contributions due under such conditions; and whether, as many of these insured persons are likely again to become ordinary workers with less than £250 per annum, so having to become compulsorily insured and causing difficulties for them and much trouble and expense for approved societies, he will raise the income limit at an early date?
§ The Minister of Health (Mr. Ernest Brown)My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have this question under consideration and hope to be able to make a statement shortly.
§ Sir R. YoungWill the right hon. Gentleman remember in considering this matter that overtime payments are of a temporary character and fix the money qualification on basic wages?
§ Mr. BrownThe hon. Member will realise that there are long-term as well as short-term issues involved in this most important subject.