§ Mr. DENNISONasked the Minister of Health if he will consider the desirability of introducing a short amending Bill to the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act to permit any person becoming a voluntary contributor for old age pensions based on the age scale applicable to persons in excepted employment, and to secure in the case 2222W of male persons so insured that pensions shall be granted, to their wives, widows, and children on the same terms as are applicable to the wives and widows of insured persons under the Act of 1925?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINFor reasons fully stated to the House on the 13th of July, 1925, in Committee on the Bill, it would be impossible to graft a voluntary scheme as suggested on to the compulsory system without either upsetting the finances of the system or introducing a, scale of varying contributions on a much higher level than the flat rate now in operation. In these circumstances, I do not consider that legislation in the sense suggested is practicable.