asked the Minister for Health if he will give, with reference to the new health insurance proposals mentioned in the Budget speech and which are calculated to secure £2 million at a flat rate of contribution, an estimate of (a) the number of persons to be covered by the scheme, (b) the annual cost per person, (c) the levy or contribution expected from each person and (d) the Government's contribution per person.
Written Answers. - Health Insurance.
63.
Details of the matter mentioned at (a), (b) and (c) are being worked out in connection with the Bill to authorise this scheme and will be announced when the Bill comes before the House. As regards (d) the Minister for Finance made it clear in his Budget statement that this is to be a scheme of contributions designed to relieve the Exchequer of part of its liability for health services. It is not intended that there will be a specific Exchequer contribution per person as a feature of the scheme but, of course, the cost to the Exchequer per person entitled to the relevant health services will be of far greater magnitude than the contribution per person payable under the scheme.