§ 39. Mr. THOMAS LEWISasked the Minister of Health if he will state for each year since 1912 the total numbers of doctors undertaking National Health Insurance work, and the total amount paid to such doctors out of National Health Insurance funds?
§ Mr. GREENWOODWith my hon. Friend's permission I will circulate these particulars for England and Wales in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following are the particulars:
| NUMBER of MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS undertaking National Health Insurance work during the years 1913–1930. | ||
| (England and Wales.) | ||
| 1913 | … | 12,674 |
| 1914 | … | 12,868 |
| 1915 | … | 12,675 |
| 1916 | … | 12,321 |
| 1917 | … | 11,984 |
| 1918 | … | 11,675 |
| 1919 | … | 11,346 |
| 1920 | … | 11,620 |
| 1921 | … | 12,216 |
| 1922 | … | 12,531 |
| 1923 | … | 12,862 |
| 1924 | … | 13,211 |
| 1925 | … | 13,823 |
| 1926 | … | 14,432 |
| 1927 | … | 14,952 |
| 1928 | … | 15,269 |
| 1929 | … | 15,563 |
| 1930 | … | 15,750 |
| At 1st January, 1931 | … | 15,703 |
| AMOUNTS paid from NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE FUNDS to INSURANCE MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS during the years 1913–1930. | ||||
| (England and Wales.) | ||||
| £ | ||||
| 1913 | … | … | … | 3,858,000 |
| 1914 | … | … | … | 3,673,000 |
| 1915 | … | … | … | 3,470,000 |
| 1916 | … | … | … | 3,353,000 |
| 1917 | … | … | … | 3,845,000 |
| 1918 | … | … | … | 3,641,000 |
| 1919 | … | … | … | 4,052,000 |
| 1920 | … | … | … | 7,403,000 |
| 1921 | … | … | … | 7,824,000 |
| 1922 | … | … | … | 6,773,000 |
| 1923 | … | … | … | 6,670,000 |
| 1924 | … | … | … | 6,476,000 |
| 1925 | … | … | … | 6,518,000 |
| 1926 | … | … | … | 6,661,000 |
| 1927 | … | … | … | 6,831,000 |
| 1928 | … | … | … | 7,037,000 |
| 1929 | … | … | … | 7,109,000 |
| 1930 | … | … | … | 7,300,000 |
§ 40. Mr. LEWISasked the Minister of Health if he will state for each year since 1912 the total reserve values credited to approved societies; the amount de- 2134 ducted from contributions paid in respect of insured persons for the redemption of such reserve values; the manner in which the amount so deducted has been utilised for the redemption of such reserve values and the payment of interest thereon, respectively, and the total amount of reserve values unredeemed at December, 1930; when it was anticipated that the original reserve values credited in 1912 would be fully redeemed; when it is now anticipated that all reserve values will be redeemed; and the reasons for any extension of such time?
§ Mr. GREENWOODAs the answer is long, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the answer:
§ The particulars asked for in the first part of the question are not available, but the position at December, 1930, is estimated to be as follows:
| £ | |
| Total amount deducted from contributions | 56,000,000 |
| of which the amount applied to payment of interest on reserve values | 34,000,000 |
| and the amount applied to redemption of reserve values | 22,000,000 |
| Total amount of reserve values unredeemed | 48,000,000 |
§ In answer to the latter parts of the question it was originally estimated that the reserve values would be redeemed by about 1932, but following the recommendations of a Departmental Committee the contributions applied to this purpose were reduced in 1918 to enable the contingencies funds of approved societies to be set up and the redemption period was extended, as estimated, to 1952. A further extension to 1955 followed on the increase of benefits and contributions in 1920. Subsequent changes have not affected this date, but considerable uncertainty has been created by the conditions of recent years, since interest being the first charge on the contributions assigned to the service of reserve values, the whole weight of the reduction of income arising from abnormal unemployment falls upon the amount available for redemption.