§ 95. Sir R. CLOUGHasked the Minister of Health whether the medical reports and statistics obtainable in connection with the National Health Insurance Scheme indicate that any increase of 1072 sickness, particularly among women, is due to the prevalence of restricted means of livelihood arising from unemployment?
§ Sir A. MONDThe figures available as to the claims for sickness benefit amongst approved societies comprising about half the total number of insured persons, show that there was an increase in the number of weeks for which benefit was paid in 1921 as compared with the previous year of 1.4 per cent. in the case of men and 8.4 per cent. in the case of women. Many factors must, however, be borne in mind in making a comparison between the figures for the two years, and, in particular, the serious epidemic of influenza about the end of the year 1921. The material in the possession of the Ministry does not make it possible to state to what extent the increase may have been attributable to the cause referred to by the hon. Member.