55. Mr. WORTHINGTON-EVANSasked what is the estimated total cost in the year 1915 of the Amendments proposed in the National Insurance Act (1911) Amendment Bill; how much thereof is to be met by postponement of the sinking fund to redeem the reserve values; how much by moneys provided by Parliament; and how much out of the funds of approved societies?
59. Mr. WORTHINGTON - EVANSasked whether it appears from Mr. Watson's Report [Cd. 6898], that the annual value of the Amendments proposed in the National Insurance Act (1911) Amendment Bill is estimated at £787,000 or what other sum?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe estimated gross value of the benefits to be given in 1915 by the new Amending Bill, including partial payment of arrears, is £990,000, of which a sum of £242,000, which is a diminishing sum, will be provided by the State; £100,000 will be taken from the income of the sinking fund, thus extending the redemption period by six months, and £648,000 will be provided by additional 24 reserve values, the redemption of which will involve a further extension of the sinking fund period by about one year. In addition to these sums, a charge estimated at a maximum of £20,000 may fall upon the Exchequer in respect of arrears, but this charge is contingent and depends partly upon the extent of unemployment and partly upon the amount of arrears paid by insured persons in respect of their periods of unemployment. Against the foregoing sums must be set off the amount of the benefits which would have been paid to persons between the ages of sixty-five and seventy, under the conditions of the resent Act, with the corresponding State Grant. The amount of these benefits cannot be definitely stated, because the allowances are within the discretion of approved societies, but may be estimated as at least £150,000. The State Grant under the present conditions is estimated at £35,000, and by deducting this from the total of £242,000 above stated the amount of the new State Grant, £207,000 results. No charge will fall upon the funds of approved societies except under Clause 6 of the Bill, and any charge here involved is not only quite unimportant in amount, but must be largely offset by the relief afforded to societies from the necessity of keeping elaborate records to enable them to comply with the present requirements of the Act.
Mr. WORTHINGTON-EVANSWill the right hon. Gentleman give us an estimate of the amount that will fall on the approved societies' funds under Clause 6?
§ Mr. MASTERMANMy actuary says that it is quite negligible.
§ Mr. PETOCan he not give some simple statement to the House as to what the total cost of the Insurance Act Amendment Bill which will fall upon- all the parties concerned?
§ Mr. MASTERMANSuch a simple statement has already been issued.
§ 75. Mr. CASSELasked whether it is proposed to introduce, during the present Session of Parliament, a Supplemental Estimate for the additional moneys to be provided by Parliament pursuant to the National Insurance Act (1911) Amendment Bill?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe answer is in the negative.
§ 76. Sir J. D. REESasked whether, under the National Insurance Act (1911) Amendment Bill, a middle woman is regarded as an employer and in that character is expected to pay full tax for each person she employs; and, if so, whether a middle woman in the lace-finishing trade cannot pay such an impost, being wholly unable to calculate in advance how many workers she needs to employ or for how long a time; and whether the Government proposes to pass this amending Bill without regard to the fact that it increases the hardships already imposed on these women outworkers by the National Insurance Act?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThere is no provision in the amending Bill which affects in any way the liability of middle women to insure the outworkers employed by them, and I am unable to understand to what the hon. Member refers or how the new proposals can increase any supposed existing hardships.