HC Deb 29 March 1922 vol 152 cc1327-8
61 Dr. FARQUHARSON

asked the Minister of Health (1) by what method or principle are the salaries, wages, and allowances of the administrative staff, the general clerical staff, and the Insurance Department staff apportioned for payment by the Exchequer or National Health Insurance Funds, respectively;

(2) why the small sum of £130,600 can only be recovered from National Health Insurance Funds, seeing that the cost of the Insurance Department staff of the Ministry amounts alone to £159,267, and that of the general clerical staff to £329,650, a total of £488,917;

(3) if he will explain why the increase for 1922–23 of the amount recoverable from National Health Insurance Funds amounts only to £22,945, having regard to the fact that the increased cost of the general clerical staff and Insurance Departments for the same year amounts to £137,612?

Sir A. MOND

As the answer is rather long, I propose, with permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the answer:

The whole of the salaries of the staff employed in the Insurance Department is paid out of moneys provided by Parliament, but the cost of the staff employed on the work of detailed administration of benefits carried out by the Department is recovered from insurance funds and appropriated in aid of the Vote. This work embraces the administration of the Deposit Contributors' Fund, the Navy and Army Insurance Fund and the Exempt Persons Fund and the Approved Societies Officers' Guarantee Fund. The sum estimated to be recovered in 1922–23, namely, £130,600, is the estimated actual cost of this work for the year. The cost of the Medical Referee Service, in so far as it is concerned with the administration of benefits, will also be recovered from insurance funds and an appropriation-in-aid of £66,000 is estimated for on that account. The increase of the amount estimated to be recovered from insurance funds in 1922–23, as compared with 1921–22, is £77,300, and not £22,945, as stated by the hon. Member. I should point out that the cost of general clerical staff to which the hon. Member refers is that for the whole work of the Ministry, and not of the Insurance Department only.