HC Deb 09 April 1962 vol 657 cc954-5
36. Mr. Lawson

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how much of the £163 million which will be collected by the National Health Service contribution in 1962–63 is attributable to last year's increase in this contribution.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

About £49 million.

Mr. Lawson

In view of this quite small amount of money when we are talking in terms of thousands of millions, will not the Minister take steps to ask his right hon. Friend the Minister of Health to see whether the distress caused by collecting this money could not be got rid of and medicine made a free service?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I am sure that this money is very well spent on the expansion of the Health Service which my right hon. Friend is undertaking.

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