" ALL-IN " INSURANCE
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—In the last issue of the Spectator Mr. Moss gives some interesting figures and concludes "that if these are anything of a guide the increased costs of the Broad Scheme would be a fairly severe charge on employers," and mean "an additional charge of 50 per cent, above the present costs." When one examines Mr. Moss's figures the question arises as to the number of men the employers paid insurance for. When a worker is unemployed the employer is relieved of any payments for Health and Unemployment Insurances and for Workmen's Compensation. The figures given relate to the engineering trade in Glasgow, where unfortunately there has been a very high percentage of unemployed, and for these the employers make no insurance contributions. And yet Mr. Moss, in dividing the total costs paid in the year by the firms, divides by the total number on the books instead of the number of those actually employed and for whom insurances were paid.
Let me show the difference this would make :- Employers' costs per week per employee A.
s. d. B.
s. d.
C.
s. d.
as given by Mr. Moss .. .. 1 7/ 1 10} .. 1 61 Employers' costs per week per employee for those working :—
Health and Unemployment, is. 3d. per week ; Workmen's Compensa- tion on basis of £2 10s. per week average wage at 1 per cent., 6d.
per week .. .. 1 9 .. 1 9 .. 1 9 To this is. 9d. per week must be added costs connected with Poor Law, Pensions, &c.
As for other points raised by Mr. Moss : (1) Insured persons between sixteen and eighteen will pay half the contributions and receive half benefits. (2) Private traders and "little masters" will come in. (3) Mr. Moss desires larger pensions. I am not unsympathetic. I prefer, however, to try for some- thing better and immediately obtainable rather than wait indefinitely for the ideal.
Mr. Moss will recognize that my proposals (1) Double the present sickness benefit (from 15s. to 30s. per week) ; (2) Increase Old Age Pensions three times (from 10s. to 30s. per week); (3) Lower the pension age by seven years (from 70 to 63) ; (4) Provide pensions for all widows and fatherless children ; (5) Almost solve the unemployment problem by enabling one million workers over 63 to retire at once on pensions and so provide places for the younger workers now unemployed.—I am, Sir, &c., T. T. BROAD.
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