§ 30. Mr. CHARLES DUNCANasked whether any figures have been prepared and submitted by local insurance committees showing the estimated annual expenditure of these committees for administrative purposes; and, if so, can he supply this House with any information thereon?
§ Mr. MASTERMANInsurance committees have been in communication with the Insurance Commissioners from time to time as to their necessary expenditure and the amount of money available for it. They have been kept informed by the Insurance Commissioners as to the amount available per insured person, and have been able to adjust their expenditure accordingly. I am not aware that committees have made detailed estimates of the actual amount that they would spend in a complete year.
§ 31. Mr. CHARLES DUNCANasked whether any of the local insurance committees have approached the National Insurance Commissioners or the Treasury with regard to the payment of a subsistence allowance to their members; and, if so, what reply has been given?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirma- 238 tive. In reply to such representations by insurance committees the English Commissioners have pointed out that by the terms of the National Insurance Act they have no power to approve the payment of a subsistence allowance to members of insurance committees. They have noted the representations made.
§ 32. Mr. CHARLES DUNCANasked whether any local insurance committees are now making payments to their members for fares and any other expenses; and, if so, what committees are making these payments, and to what sums do they amount?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe insurance committees for thirty-five administrative counties in England on their application have been authorised by the Commissioners, in pursuance of Section 61 (2) of the National Insurance Act, to repay the travelling expenses incurred by their members in attending meetings of the committees and of their sub-committees. It would not be possible without a special return to give the amount which has actually been expended by each committee under this head. I am, however, circulating a list of the thirty-five committees, showing in each case the estimate made by the committee itself of the amount which will be required in each year for such repayment.—[See Written Answers this date.]
Mr. CATHCART WASONIs the right hon. Gentleman now able to state what course will be adopted in the cases of those insurance committees who have no funds to pay travelling expenses to their members?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI shall be glad if the hon. Gentleman will give me notice.
§ Sir GEORGE YOUNGERIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is one case in Scotland where the insurance committees are now being offered a composition for their expenses instead of as originally arranged?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI should like notice of that. The offer of composition to the committees is entirely a matter of the amount the insurance committees have at their disposal.
§ Sir G. YOUNGERIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is the case in Argyll?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI will inquire.