§ Q4. Mr. William Hamilton asked the Prime Minister whether he will now seek to set up another independent inquiry, comparable to that of Sir William Beveridge in the 1940s, to investigate and make recommendations on the future structure, scope, and financing of social insurance.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. The Government have done and are doing a great deal in this field and I do not think that a new independent inquiry would help.
§ Mr. HamiltonDoes my right hon. Friend recognise that the issues involved as to finance, scope and structure of the 322 social services are so complex that it would be a great advantage if we had such a commission which could take evidence from any outside body which cared to give it and which would be available to the public? These are circumstances which would not and do not pertain to the survey which is being made on a Departmental basis.
§ The Prime MinisterWhile yielding to no one in my admiration for Sir William Beveridge and his work—I will be glad to send my hon. Friend a copy of my Beveridge Memorial Lecture, which is being published this week—[Interruption.] That was not a commercial, because all profits accrue to the Institute—I do not feel that a comparable investigation would help. I think that it would severely delay the progress being made. A lot of organisations give evidence to the Government in the work which we are doing—for example, on the earnings-related pension scheme and other matters—and have never been backward in publicising their advice.
Mr. Gresham CookeNow that the former assistant to Sir William Beveridge has abandoned Socialism by the adoption of yesterday's statement on welfare, should not he go the whole way and have an inquiry into a more selective Welfare State?
§ The Prime MinisterI do not understand the premise of the hon. Gentleman's question. I thought that the rather ill-informed attacks made on my right hon. Friend's statement yesterday were largely due to the fact that it was a further advance in Socialism.