§ 51. Sir W. Smithersasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will say in 681 terms of pence per £ in Income Tax what is the cost to the taxpayer of the National Health Service and the National Insurance scheme, respectively.
§ Sir S. CrippsThe National Health Service and the National Insurance schemes will have been in force for the last nine months of the current financial year. It is estimated that during this period the cost to the taxpayer of the former will be equivalent to an Income Tax of about 1s. 0 ½d. and that the contributions of the Exchequer to the latter will be equivalent to one of about 8 ½d.
§ Sir W. SmithersWill the Chancellor agree that this is an unwarrantable Socialist device for relieving people of their money to pay for services of which they may or may not wish to avail themselves?
§ Sir S. CrippsI think it is a very valuable service for the public.