§ 62. Mr. G. LOCKER-LAMPSONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the amount fixed for the provision of sanatorium benefit under the National Insurance Act, namely, 1s. 3d. per head, was the result of actuarial advice; if so, upon what basis this amount was arrived at; whether it was the actual experience of friendly societies or the experience of 882 sanatoria and kindred institutions; and whether he had the advantage of comparing the sum fixed under the Act with the actual cost to any society or institution in which the members are admitted only after medical examination?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe experience in the sphere of tuberculosis, as distinct from other diseases, possessed by friendly societies and the authorities of sanatoria before the passing of the Act was too limited to be of much practical value in arriving at an estimate of the amount required to be provided by the Act for sanatorium benefit. A further difficulty was that tuberculosis was at the time not a notifiable disease. The figure was arrived at by a calculation based on the mortality statistics and such experience as was available of the cost of treatment.
§ Mr. G. LOCKER-LAMPSONDid the right hon. Gentleman have the advantage of the Post Office experience, where the amount is 1s. 10d. per head of selected lives?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI could not answer that question without notice. Every experience available was taken into account, but it was very limited.
§ Mr. CASSELMay I ask whether the amount in London has been found fully sufficient?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI have no knowledge of that fact.