44. Colonel BURNasked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the approved societies are proposing to undertake the cost of medical benefit under the National Health Insurance Acts out of the surpluses accumulated during the past years; and what changes in the control of medical benefit this will entail?
§ Sir A. MONDI am proposing to introduce at an early date a Bill under which the cost of medical benefit which has hitherto been met by a direct Exchequer grant over and above the normal statutory proportion will be transferred to approved societies in respect of the period ending on 31st December, 1923, and will be met out of their accumulated funds, in which are included the surpluses disclosed at the first valuation and not used for the provision of additional benefits. The Bill will not entail any changes in the control of medical benefit.