HC Deb 15 July 1948 vol 453 cc119-20W
Sir E. Graham-Little

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, as the Report to the Nation No. 20 issued by His Majesty's Government opens with the statement that a free National Health Service for all has been reached, and this conflicts with a statement by the Government Actuary (Command Paper No. 6730) that the rates of contribution proposed to be charged for National Insurance are to include a payment towards the cost of the National Health Service, and since nine-tenths of the remaining cost of the Health Service must be paid by local and national taxation, he will modify or withdraw the report describing the Health Service as free.

Sir S. Cripps

I have read the report to which the hon. Member refers and find that it accurately describes the position. A large part of it is devoted to answering the questions, who will pay for the services and how will we pay for them.