asked the Prime Minister whether an amending Bill for Health Insurance is in preparation; if so, whether fishermen are to be included in it; and if it will apply to Scotland?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN:

I have been asked to reply. As soon as the consideration of the recommendations of the recent Royal Commission on National Health Insurance has been completed, it is hoped to introduce the necessary legislation, and the question of the compulsory insurance of share fishermen both in England and Scotland, in so far as they are not already included in the scheme, would be dealt with in such legislation.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Parliamentary Secretary made a definite statement at a meeting in Norfolk on Saturday that shore fishermen—I do not know what he meant by that—would be included in such a scheme? Can he say why that statement was made in such definite terms?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN:

I think what my hon. Friend said was "share fishermen" and not "shore fishermen." The statement that he made was corroborated by myself.

In the "Times" newspaper the word was "shore."

Will it be the case that if share fishermen are included, they will have to pay both the employers' and employés' contributions, and will he make sure that these fishermen want the insurance before he introduces it?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN:

That will be considered when the legislation is introduced.

Will this scheme include crofter fishermen in the Highlands?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN:

I do not know what a crofter fisherman is.

May I ask for a definite answer to my question? Has there been a decision taken? If not, why was such a decision announced in terms at a public meeting in the constituencies on Saturday?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN:

The hon. Member seems very hard to satisfy. I have already told him that if and when legislation is introduced these share fishermen will be included.

I may be hard to satisfy, but so are the fishermen, who do not know where they are.