§ 16. Mr. Kenneth Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to issue his Green Paper on possible changes in insurance payments for the National Health Service.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinWe are examining the strengths and weaknesses of our present system of health care financing and those of other countries. It is too soon to say when and in what form consultative proposals will appear. In the meantime, I welcome debate on this important subject.
§ Mr. LewisIs my right hon. Friend aware that the Health Service needs an increase in resources which it cannot, and should not, get from the Government? Does he agree that there is much to be said for amalgamating the private sector into the present Health Service so that they may work together? When my right hon. Friend publishes a White Paper, will he ensure that action arises from it as soon as possible?
§ Mr. JenkinI must make it clear both to my hon. Friend and to the House that I do not think that a White Paper or a consultative document will appear in the near future. We have a great deal of work to do before we can put forward any proposals for consultation. On the question of collaboration with the private sector, I am glad that my hon. Friend supports the arrangements that we are trying to make in the Health Service to have much closer collaboration between it and the private sector for the benefit, above all, of National Health Service patients.
§ Mr. EnnalsQuite apart from the principles at stake, about which most of us on the Labour side feel strongly, 139 is not the Secretary of State aware from all his studies that insurance-based health provision is much more expensive and bureaucratic than the present system under the National Health Service?
§ Mr. JenkinI do not necessarily accept the right hon. Gentleman's remarks. The distinguishing feature of health services financed by insurance is that they do not have waiting lists anything like the size of ours. That seems to be a target worth shooting at.