§ 11. Lieut.-Colonel Liptonasked the Minister of Health for what purposes national registration numbers are still required; and when the use of these numbers will be abandoned.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodNational registration has been wholly abandoned. Some numbering system, however, is necessary for purposes of the National Health Service and, for reasons of economy, this is based upon the old numbers.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonHow is it possible for the Minister to say that national registration has been completely abandoned when people are required to keep, remember and make use of their national registration numbers? Is he not, in effect, still attempting to hoax the public into believing that national registration has been abandoned, whereas unless the individual remembers his national registration number he can find himself in all kinds of difficulties?
§ Mr. MacleodOh, no. Any large scheme—for example, the National Health Insurance scheme before the Health Service was introduced—is bound to be based upon a system of numbers. We have used the same system of numbers, but national registration, happily, does not exist any more, and as a consequence a lot of staff and a great deal of money have been saved.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonWe have to have a number?
§ Mr. MacleodOf course.