§ Sir E. Graham-Littleasked the Minister of National Insurance whether, as it will be impossible for many years to provide benefits in accordance with the provisions of the National Insurance Act, notably in the field of Health Services, he will graduate the amount of the compulsory levy for Insurance under the Act, in step with the actual provision of benefits in respect of which that levy is made.
§ Mr. SteeleAs already announced, the benefits of the National Insurance Acts, 1946, will become fully available subject to the conditions laid down from next July when the contributions required by the Acts also become payable. As regards the Health Services to be provided under the National Health Service Act, although there will be continuous development of these as resources increase, the cost of the wide range of services which will be immediately available from next July will greatly exceed the sums to be provided from National Insurance funds under Section 37 of the National Insurance Act and no reduction in National Insurance contributions would accordingly be justified.