§ 59 and 61. Mr. GOLDSMITHasked the Secretary to the Treasury (1) whether he can state the number of persons who have become voluntary insurers under the 762 National Insurance Act; and (2) whether he can state the number of insured persons whose rate of remuneration exceeds 1s. 6d. and does not exceed 2s. a working day, and in whose case the contribution of 1d. per week is being paid out of moneys provided by Parliament?
§ Mr. MASTERMANIt is impossible to give the information desired by the hon. Member until the first quarters' cards have all come in and been scheduled, a process which will still take some weeks to complete.
§ Mr. GOLDSMITHCan the right hon. Gentleman state how many penny contributions are being paid by the Treasury at present in the ease of persons earning less than 12s. a week?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI cannot tell how many until the contributions have been paid, and that cannot be ascertained until the cards have been returned and sorted. That is a considerable process in dealing with 13,000,000 cards.
§ Mr. GOLDSMITHIs there any contribution being paid by persons earning less than 12s. a week?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI have no knowledge of any money being paid by contributors that ought not to be paid by them. The Treasury will pay the penny in due course.
§ Mr. GOLDSMITHIs it being paid now?
§ Mr. MASTERMANNothing is being paid at present to approved societies except a certain amount for administration and sanatorium benefit. When they want the money they will have it.