§ 2.34 p.m.
§ LORD CONESFORDMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper. In doing so, may I disclose that I am a member of the Association.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they wish to discourage persons from joining the B.U.P. Association.]
§ BARONESS SEROTAMy Lords, I hope that the noble Lord's cold and cough will pass soon. Her Majesty's Government have no wish to discourage people from joining B.U.P.A., or, for that matter, any other private health insurance scheme; nor do the Government wish to encourage them. This is entirely, I think all noble Lords will agree, a matter of individual choice. The aim of the Government is to see that adequate services in the National Health Service are available, and that they are available according to medical need, not ability to pay.
§ LORD CONESFORDMy Lords, may I thank the noble Baroness for that Answer, which is clearer than any that has yet been given on this subject. Can she say why no such clear answer was given by either Minister who took part in the Commons debate last Wednesday on this subject?
§ BARONESS SEROTAMy Lords, we were not asked that particular question.
§ LORD BOOTHBYMy Lords, may I ask the noble Baroness whether she is aware that the views expressed by Mr. Crossman run directly counter to those repeatedly expressed, in public and in private, by the architect of the present National Health Service, the late Mr. Aneurin Bevan?
§ BARONESS SEROTAMy Lords, I had hoped that the reply I gave to the noble Lord, Lord Inglewood, last week and the discussion we had following my reply to supplementary questions would have dispelled any doubts as to what my right honourable friend said in his Herbert Morrison Lecture about private insurance schemes.
§ VISCOUNT HANWORTHMy Lords, may I ask the noble Baroness whether she is aware that it is perhaps slightly overstating things to say that the National Health Service is free?