§ 73. Sir J. D. REESasked whether the administration of the National Insurance Act costs upwards of 26 per cent. of the total estimate of the sum required for health insurance; and, if so, whether any precedent, other than the Land Taxes of the 1909 Budget, can be found for such a charge upon the taxpayer for administration in proportion to the amount of benefit received?
Mr. ROBERTSONThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The figure of 27 per cent. which my right hon. Friend the Secretary to the Treasury named in his answer on 26th March related, as desired in the question to which he was replying, to voted expenditure only, and omitted the main portion of the expenditure on benefits. The last part of the question does not therefore arise.