Business will be taken as on the Order Paper-No. 2 (Vote 65), No. 1 (Water Supplies Bill) and No. 14 (motion). When business, as ordered, is concluded, Private Deputies' Business will be taken.
Order of Business.
Would the Minister for Local Government indicate when we are likely to have the National Health Insurance Bill circulated? Very serious inconvenience is being caused to insurance contributors by the delay and I think that if the curative treatment which, I understand, is envisaged by this Bill were made available to contributors, the society's funds might benefit. Will the Bill be circulated before Christmas?
I cannot guarantee that it will be available before Christmas. Drafting difficulties have arisen and these have delayed the preparation of the Bill.
Can the Minister give any indication as to when the Bill will be ready?
I cannot, because the matter is not in my hands.
What is the purpose of putting down a Bill for First Reading and then coming to the House and telling us that the drafting has not been completed?
We had hoped that we should have the Bill ready before Christmas, and I think it was reasonable and justifiable to act on that hope.
They were thinking of a general election at the time.