Public ends and private means Sir: In his letter t15
September) Mr John Ashe invokes the name of the Monday Club to in- validate the suggestions made in your recent editorial as a basis for Tory social policy. As Chairman of the Social Services Study Group of the Monday Club I should like to explain how, in my personal opinion, your suggestions lie within the mainstream of Tory thought (my views do not in any way commit the Club or other members of the Group).
The Conservative party today ought to be the descendant of the nineteenth century Conservative party rather than the nineteenth century Liberal party; of Young England rather than the Man- chester School. Unfortunately after the death of Disraeli the Conservatives neglected the 'Condition of the People' issue, which permitted the rise of the Labour party. Perhaps a return by Conservatives to former ideas might reverse' the process.
In all social questions there are two issues to be considered, firstly the practical policies to be carried out and secondly the means of paying for them. This may be illustrated by the example of the NHS. All parties are agreed on the practical policy that each individual should receive the medical treatment that he or she requires regard- less of his or her ability to pay the economic cost.
There are thus two possible ways of financing the service: (a) all costs are paid by the state out of taxation; (b) the individual pays some or all of the cost depending on his or her means. Now if the second method were to operate as planned, i.e. that despite the complexities of the system nobody was deterred from applying for necessary medical treatment, then the total cost of the treatment would be the same under both methods. Apart from the additional operating costs of the second method the result would be to penalise the better-off members of the community when they were ill. Since they will already be pay- ing more in taxation it does not seem equitable that the Conservative party should ask them to pay what is in effect another discriminatory tax.
Alan Smith 83 Ferguson Avenue, Gidea Park, Romford, Essex
Previous page
