Orders of the Day — National Insurance (Further Provisions) Bill

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 1 July 1966.

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Photo of Mr Albert Booth Mr Albert Booth , Barrow-in-Furness 12:00, 1 July 1966

Many of my hon. Friends who have come to the House this morning to listen and take part in the debate are here not only because we appreciate the problems of those who are outwith the National Insurance scheme, but also because we have considerable sympathy for the aims of the Bill and for the attempt which the Measure makes to deal with these problems.

The hon. Lady the Member for Tynemouth (Dame Irene Ward) therefore did her cause a great disservice when she referred to the philosophy of the Conservative Party in support of the Bill. That philosophy, as it is understood by a great many people, is that the individual should make financial provision for his own needs. That philosophy has acted as a barrier to a solution being found to the problems which the Bill is trying to achieve, remembering that it is a comparatively recent concept of the Conservative Party that there should be a level below which nobody should fall—the view that life in this community is like a ladder which we are all trying to climb and that there should be a net to catch those who suffer setbacks and disasters.