HC Deb 25 February 1948 vol 447 cc1941-2
34. Mr. Rankin

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether satisfactory schemes for health and unemployment insurance have yet been drawn up in Trinidad; and when it is proposed to operate them.

Mr. Rees-Williams

The recommendations contained in the interim report of the Committee on Health Insurance in Trinidad, to which my right hon. Friend referred in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Heston and Isleworth (Mr. W. R. Williams) on 30th October, 1946, were found on examination to be imprac- ticable. The possibility of operating health insurance through the machinery of the friendly society movement was then explored, but so far without success and the Governor is not sanguine about the prospects. Another committee which is studying unemployment insurance has not yet submitted any report. In view of the difficulties which both committees are known to be experiencing owing to the complexity of the subjects in question, the Governor has recently asked them to state at an early date whether or not they were going to complete their labours and report shortly.

Mr. Rankin

Is my hon. Friend aware that this matter has been the subject of repeated Questions in this House by many of us; it has been going on for nearly two years. Can I now take it that some action is really to be forthcoming?

Mr. Rees-Williams

Yes. We have sent an urgent telegram asking them to expedite their report, if they propose to make one.