Mr. WORTHINGTON-EVANSasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) why the Regulations of the National Health Insurance Commission (Scotland), dated 27th December, 1912, were not laid upon the Table of the House until the 10th January, and why the same were not printed and obtainable at the Vote Office on the 21st instant; whether this delay was intended to conceal their contents from the House; (2) why none of the twenty-one sets of Regulations under the National Insurance Act laid upon the Table of the House on and since the 8th January were printed and obtainable at the Vote Office up to and including the 21st instant, and when the same may be expected?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI propose to take questions 107 and 108 together. The regulations made by the Scottish Commissioners, dated 27th December, 1912, were sent to the printers immediately, but in consequence of the pressure of printing work and the New Year holidays, were not received until 8th January. Five of the regulations referred to in the second question have been issued to the Vote Office, and the others will be sent there within a few days. I would point out, however, that copies of all the regulations referred to are, and have from the time of presentation been available in the Library. There is therefore no foundation whatever for the suggestion in the latter part of the first question. The hon. Member will also find that some of the regulations to which he refers are in substance the same as others already made and circulated by the English Commission.