§ Mr. Ness Edwardsasked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the great hardship endured by persons who have been on National Health Insurance for a long time, he will consider some special steps for alleviating this hardship?
§ Mr. E. BrownUnder the provisions of the National Health Insurance, Contributory Pensions and Workmen's Compensation Act, 1941, the statutory rates of sickness and disablement benefit were increased by 3s. a week from 5th January last and there is no margin in the contribution which would enable these improved rates to be still further augmented. I would, however, remind my hon. Friend that a comprehensive survey of the existing national schemes of social insurance and allied services is now being made by the Inter-Departmental Committee presided over by Sir William Beveridge.