18. Mr. WORTHINGTON-EVANSasked the Secretary to the Treasury what is the estimated amount of the statutory income in the period to 12th January, 1913, of the insurance committee of the county of Essex, how such income is derived, and when and from whom the insurance committee will receive it?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe sources from which the statutory income of insurance committees is derived, as well as the amounts which it is estimated will be available to the insurance committees for the period ending 12th January, 1913, are set out in the Memoranda 102 and 112 I.C., copies of which I will send to the hon. Member. In addition to the money available under the provisions of the Act it is proposed to make special Grants to insurance committees towards their exceptionally heavy expenditure during the period in which the Act is being brought into operation. The amount to be granted to each committee (which will not in the case of any committee exceed £100) will be settled when the actual amount by which the statutory income is insufficient to meet 1624 expenditure incurred with the approval of the insurance commissioners has been ascertained. Provision is made accordingly in the Supplementary Estimate. Apart from such Grants the amount available would, on the basis taken in the above Memoranda, work out at about £790 for administration expenses and £4,500 for sanatorium benefit for Essex. As I stated in my answers to the hon. Members for Salisbury and Eastbourne on the 15th and 24th July, respectively, the precise dates of transfer of credits from the National Health Insurance Fund to the accounts of the committees will depend upon the moneys from time to time available upon the account of the fund and requirements of the respective committees.
Mr. WORTHINGTON-EVANSCan the right hon. Gentleman say how the immediate responsibilities of the insurance committees are to be met?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI think they are being met under the conditions laid down in the Memoranda.
§ Mr. MASTERMANI should like notice of that.