§ Mr. BOOTHasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the statements in the Press purporting to give details of his proposals for State insurance against sickness and invalidity; whether they were issued with his authority; and can he state how soon the House will be placed in possession of the main outlines of his scheme as disclosed in confidence to a certain representative of a particular friendly society?
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§ Mr. HOBHOUSEMy right hon. Friend's attention was called to the statements referred to, which were issued entirely without his authority or knowledge. The scheme will be communicated in the usual manner to the House of Commons as soon as it is completed and embodied in a Bill.