§ Colonel DAYasked the Minister of Health whether he has recently received representations from the Southwark Borough Council requesting him to introduce legislation making it illegal for a ratepayer to contest more than one seat at an election of board of guardians, Metropolitan borough council, or for other local authority; and will he, in view of the unnecessary public expense incurred by this procedure, give this request his consideration?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI have been asked to reply. I have received the representations of the borough council and will certainly have the matter investigated with the view to considering whether there is any need for a change in the law.
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Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe contributions proposed in the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Bill to be paid by employers and the State respectively in respect of insured persons, expressed in terms of pence per insured person per week, are given in the subjoined table. It should be explained that in the case of National Health Insurance the State contribution takes the form of payment of the statutory proportion of the cost of benefits and administration, together with the cost of central administration. In the case of contributory pensions the State assumes liability for the cost of pensions in so far as it is not covered by the contributions of employers and employed; the State contribution provided for in the present Bill represents the equivalent of the estimated deficit in the first decennial period and is exclusive of the additional cost of old age pensions at 70. The amounts given in the table as representing State contributions are therefore approximations.