§ Mr. ASTORasked whether it is proposed to include surgical treatment in the medical benefits to be given to persons insured under the National Insurance Bill?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThe present practice of the friendly societies is only to provide such surgical treatment of a minor nature as may be covered by their agreements with the doctors.
§ Mr. ASTORasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will say what is the annual cost of expenses of management in connection with the Caisse de Retraites in Belgium; what is the estimated cost of expenses of management in connection with the deposit contributors under the National Insurance Bill; and what percentage of the income does this cost of management represent in both cases?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThe Belgian Caisse de Retraites is a system of State-assisted old age pensions established in connection with the State Savings Bank, and does not include any provision for health insurance. It is, therefore, not comparable to Part I. of the National Insurance Bill. I cannot give any information as to the actual cost of administration of the Belgian system. The estimated cost of administration under the Bill is 4s. per annum for each person insured. It should be observed, however, that this is 137 merely the amount taken for the purpose of calculating the premiums, and that any saving thereon will be available for the benefit of the insured persons whether members of approved societies or deposit contributors.
Mr. CHANCELLORasked whether the research to be endowed with public money under Sub-section (2) of Section 15 of the National Insurance Bill will include vivisectional experiments in cutting, maiming, mutilating, electrically stimuating, baking, and inoculating living animals, or whether he will accept an Amendment confining such public endowment to methods of research which do not involve vivisection?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThe Insurance Commissioners, in whose discretion this matter would lie, will be responsible through the Treasury to Parliament for the administration of the Government Grant.
Mr. CHANCELLORasked whether it is intended that the Insurance Commissioners should be justified in accepting from an approved society, in lieu of the actual deposit of securities referred to in Section 20, Sub-section (3), of the National Insurance Bill, a bond given to the Commissioners by a fidelity guarantee corporation for the required amount?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThe suggestion would under the Clause as drawn be one for consideration by the Insurance Commissioners. In some cases the method suggested would probably be a very suitable one, and it is by no means intended to rule it out.
Mr. CHANCELLORasked whether, in the case of stocks and funds inscribed in the names of the trustees of an approved society under the National Insurance Bill, it will be necessary to transfer them into the names of the Insurance Commissioners, or how otherwise it is proposed that they be deposited within the meaning of Section 20, Sub-section (3)?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThe normal method of depositing inscribed or registered stock would be by transfer into the names of the Insurance Commissioners in the manner suggested in the question; but, if the hon. Member will refer to the Clause, he will see that considerable latitude is allowed for alternative arrangements, subject to the approval of the Commissioners.