HC Deb 22 May 1941 vol 371 cc1574-8
36. Mr. Ellis Smith

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the extreme urgency of the need to increase the benefits payable under the National Health Insurance, in particular, sickness, maternity and disablement benefits; by what amounts it is intended to increase the benefits; and can he make a statement on the matter in view of the urgency?

Mr. E. Brown

Yes, Sir, and, with permission, I propose to make a statement at the end of Questions.

52. Mr. Tinker

asked the Minister of Health whether he is now in a position to make a statement on the position about review of national health benefits; and will he also give some indication how long it will be before the matter will be brought before Parliament as there is discontent among those who are suffering ill-health and cannot get sufficient to meet their requirements?

Mr. Brown

I would ask my hon. Friend to await the statement I propose to make after Questions.

Later—

Mr. Brown

I am glad to be able to inform the House that the Government intend to introduce legislation on this subject very shortly. This legislation cannot, in present circumstances, be more than an interim measure designed to give effect to certain changes in the Health Insurance scheme which are necessary to meet war-time conditions. It is, however, the Government's hope that it will be possible to carry through in due course a thorough overhaul of the existing schemes of social insurance, particularly health and pensions insurance and workmen's compensation. It is obvious that legislation for so wide a purpose could not be introduced at an early date and that its scope and content must necessarily depend upon many conditions which cannot yet be foreseen. The Government are, however, of opinion that the comprehensive survey of the existing schemes which must be an essential preliminary to such legislation should be set on foot at once as part of post-war planning. This survey is to be undertaken forthwith by my right hon. Friend the Minister without Portfolio in association with the other Ministers concerned.

The Bill which the Government intend to introduce shortly will propose, as from the commencement of the next benefit year in January next, to increase by 3s. the statutory rates of sickness and disablement benefits payable under the Health Insurance Acts. That is to say, the sickness benefit for a man would be raised from 15s. to 18s., and his disablement benefit from 7s. 6d. to 10s. 6d. For single women and widows the new rates would be 15s. and 9s. respectively, and for married women 13s. and 8s. Any cash additional benefits will, of course, continue to be payable over and above these minimum rates. These changes will be made possible by the payment of State grant on the usual basis and by increasing by 2d. the weekly contributions payable in respect of men and women alike—1d. of this increase to be borne by the employer and 1d. by the insured person.

The Bill will also propose to raise to £420, as from January next, the re-remuneration limit for the compulsory health and pensions insurance of non-manual workers. In addition to other health and pensions rights, this will give to rather less than 500,000 fresh persons a title to free medical treatment and attendance, and the new position thus created is being discussed with the medical profession.

Power will also be sought in the Bill to deal with the position in insurance of civilian prisoners of war, and other similar war problems.

Mr. Ellis Smith

Between now and when the legislation is introduced, will my right hon. Friend also consider the need to increase the benefits payable under National Health Insurance to old age pensioners?

Mr. Rhys Davies

In respect of the wider inquiry that is to be made later on into this very important problem, will the right hon. Gentleman consult the approved societies and other appropriate organisations about it?

Mr. Brown

Certainly, and not only so, but it is the intention of the Government to make it a wide and thorough investigation with a view to elaborating a comprehensive and unified scheme which will give to the nation full results in health and happiness for the future.

Mr. Graham White

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the satisfaction that will be felt at the step he is now taking to bring these benefits into line with those of the Ministry of Labour, and in view of the statements that have been made about the overhaul of the services as a whole, will he consult with the Minister without Portfolio as to the desirability of making an immediate investigation into the reserve contributory capacity of the country, in order that this may not be absorbed in directions which are not of such importance?

Mr. Brown

It will be obvious from my statement that we have this very much in mind, for one of the conditions underlying the present decision regarding a 2d. increase in the contributions is not to put the contributions too high, as that might jeopardise a thorough review such as is suggested in my statement.

Mr. Benjamin Smith

Can the right hon. Gentleman inform the House as to whether his remarks regarding the insurance of civilian prisoners of war will apply to civilian prisoners such as the seamen who were made prisoners as a result of the Altmark incident, and whether this is intended to implement the promise made by his predecessor that legislation would be introduced to cover them?

Mr. Brown

That is so. There were certain difficulties about the Altmark and we have overcome them by administrative action, and there are certain other matters of a similar nature, and in the Bill we propose to take power which will be comprehensive in cases of that kind.

Mr. Frankel

Cannot the increased benefits proposed by the right hon. Gentleman come into operation before 1st January next?

Mr. Brown

It is absolutely impossible to get the Bill through, and do the enormous amount of administrative work, which includes the preparation of over 14,000,000 new cards and other things, before January. I wish it were possible to do it earlier.

Viscountess Astor

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that single women really need more sick benefit than single men, because women are so much kinder to single men than they are to single women?

Mr. Brown

I am certainly not competent to give an answer to that. The Noble Lady will see that in this case we have given a similar increase to men and women both for sickness and disablement benefit.

Mr. James Griffiths

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman to consider in particular an increase in the disablement benefit, which will remain at 10s. 6d. per week, thereby compelling such persons to seek public assistance?

Mr. Brown

I cannot go any further than the statement I have made, which is a fully considered statement of Government policy.

Viscountess Astor

It is a similar increase, but still not equal.

Mr. Brown

It is equal in regard to the actual increase made. I think it may very well be the first time such an increase has been made without differentiation.

Dr. Edith Summerskill

Hear, hear. It is the first time.

Viscountess Astor

Still more for men—

Mr. Brown

The Noble Lady often contradicts Ministers, and I must be allowed to contradict her. The differentiation is not in the new increases but in the original scale.

Viscountess Astor

Exactly.