§ 75. Miss Lestorasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is aware that some nationalised industries offer, as fringe benefits, financial assistance towards membership of private health insurance schemes; and if he will introduce legislation to stop this practice.
§ Mr. CrossmanI am aware of one such case. I understand that B.O.A.C. offer insurance with a private health insurance scheme to its pilots and flight engineers for reasons relating to the nature of their duties.
As for the second part of the Question, I cannot legislate to control the activities of nationalised industries.
214Wto occur. In some cases therefore it will be necessary also to use "direct" electricity to attain the required room temperature in the coldest weather. The Table below indicates separately the estimated number of "off-peak" and "direct" units required and the total consumption. It has been assumed that "off-peak" electricity will be available on 15 hour tariffs for under-floor heating but on the cheaper 11 hour tariffs where storage radiators are used in single storey dwellings.
6. It must be strongly emphasised that the figures throughout are notional as there are so many variables involved in practice. Individual variations from the averages can be considerable, because of a number of factors. Size, construction and exposure of rooms, whether or not they are surrounded by warm or cold rooms, the living habits of occupants, the manner in which the appliances are used are some of the factors which in practice will influence the final results. Tariffs will vary, not only between one Supply Board and another but also, in the case of Gas undertakings, between different areas of the same Board. Solid fuel prices too, vary between one district and another. An average heating season of 33 weeks has been taken but this may prove inadequate during a prolonged winter particularly for the more northerly or exposed areas.