§ 1. Mr. Haleasked the Minister of National Insurance the amount standing to the credit of the National Insurance Fund at the latest most convenient date.
§ The Minister of National Insurance (Mr. Osbert Peake)The balances of the National Insurance Fund and the National Insurance (Reserve) Fund amounted to £479 million and £787 million respectively on 31st March, 1951, the latest date covered by published accounts.
§ Mr. HaleIn view of this very substantial and satisfactory position, does not the Minister think that he might set up a small committee to deal with one or two of the more glaring anomalies that arise in the administration of the scheme in advance of the quinquennial revaluation, which, I understand, will not produce new proposals for quite a long time?
§ Mr. PeakeNo, Sir. I cannot see any connection between the propositions which the hon. Member has raised.
§ Mr. HaleIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of the large number of widows all over the country who, week after week, are paying sums for which, in many cases, they obtain no benefit at all? Is he aware that most of them were misled into paying them in the first instance and are now reluctant to give them up? Cannot something be done? Why should we have to wait until the quinquennial revaluation before attention can be paid to a matter of this kind?