Orders of the Day — Contributory Pensions Bill.

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons am ar 15 Gorffennaf 1925.

Danfonwch hysbysiad imi am ddadleuon fel hyn

Photo of Mr Neville Chamberlain Mr Neville Chamberlain , Birmingham, Ladywood

The Debate upon this Amendment is one more illustration of the dangers to which my hon. Friend the Member for York (Sir J. Marriott) called our attention the other night. The moment you begin to listen to the dictates of your heart, rather than to strict logic, you involve yourself in charges of the grossest injustice and hardheartedness towards other people to whom you have not been so lenient. The speeches which have been made on this Amendment would have had much more force if this were an entirely new proposal which had never been heard of before, but this scheme is adapted from the scheme of the National Health Insurance Act for which the Leader of the hon. Member who last spoke was mainly responsible. The right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the Opposition distinguished between the National Health Insurance Act which he says is true insurance, and this Bill which he describes as "tomfoolery." The right hon. Gentleman knows very well what is in the National Health Insurance Act and he quoted the relevant section himself. But he gave a most astounding account of what the purpose of the National Health Insurance Act was. He said it dealt solely with disease. [HON. MEMBERS: "Ill-health!"] At all events, accident he ruled out as being something quite outside it. Do hon. Members agree?