HC Deb 10 July 1924 vol 175 cc2451-2
36. Mr. T. JOHNSTON

asked the Home Secretary if he can give for the years 1920, 1921, 1922 and 1923, each year being stated separately, the amount of premiums paid to insurance companies in respect of employers' liability insurance under the Act of 1880, the amounts received by the companies from interest and dividend upon reserves, the amounts spent in working expenses, the amounts distributed as shareholders' profits or placed on reserve, and the total sums paid as compensation, including legal and medical expenses in connection there-

TABLE showing amount of Employers' Liability Insurance Business in the United Kingdom during the years 1920, 1921 and 1922 as shown in the Annual Returns published by the Board of Trade.
—— Reserves at beginning of the year. Premiums. Interest and Dividends. Payments under policies (including legal and medical expenses incurred in settling claims).
Unexpired risks. Estimated liability for Outstanding Claims. Additional Reserve.
£ £ £ £ £ £
1920 … … 2,634,356 2,304,285 855,429 8,851,607 245,215 2,980,755
1921 … … 3,667,660 2,617,191 803,137 7,519,830 204,452 2,903,991
1922 … … 3,137,166 2,677,627 950,135 5,688,895 201,762 2,873,145

with; and whether it is the intention of the Government to take the employers' premiums in future?

Mr. HENDERSON

I shall be pleased to circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table giving the information asked for, except for the year 1923, the figures for which are not yet available. I assume that the particulars are desired in respect of insurance under the Workmen's Compensation Acts as well as under the Employers' Liability Act, 1880. As regards the last part of the question, a State system of workmen's compensation insurance is not at present in contemplation.

Mr. JOHNSTON

Can the right hon. Gentleman say if it is the case that only about one-third of the amount paid in premiums reaches the victims of industrial accidents?

Mr. H. H. SPENCER

Is the Home Secretary not aware that there are many organisations for mutual contracting out of these liabilities, showing that contracting out can save the insured people a tremendous amount of money, and will he consider that on Friday week?

Following is the information referred to: