§ Sir E. Graham-Littleasked the Minister of National Insurance whether he can now give an estimate of the probable weekly total of the compulsory insurance to be levied from each individual under the proposals of the National Insurance Scheme as sketched in the White Paper, including 391W in his computation besides the direct contribution the indirect cost resulting from increase in the rates and taxes; and whether it is proposed to control prices before the scheme is introduced, as otherwise rising prices will diminish the value of the monetary benefits.
§ Sir J. AndersonI have been asked to reply. Full estimates of the cost of the National Insurance Scheme have been given in the recent White Papers, including the insurance contributions payable by contributors and the total cost to public funds. I am not in a position to say at what weekly figure the latter will fall on the individual taxpayer and ratepayer. It will obviously vary considerably between one case and another. As regards the last part of the Question, I have nothing to add to the statements of the Government's policy on stability of prices in the White Paper on Employment Policy.