§ 73. Mr. KELLYasked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the inequalities 2024 which will arise on 6th July, 1925, as a result of the division of the valuation of approved societies under the National Health Insurance Acts into two sections, whereby that section whose valuation took place in 1922 will be in a position to distribute additional benefits, if any are due. to their members a year in advance of the societies valued in 1923; and can the question be considered of postponing the coming into operation of the additional benefits declared in respect of societies valued in 1922, so that all additional benefits of all societies will come into operation on the same date, and thus removing inequalities?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINSuch inequalities as are suggested in the question are merely temporary and the present arrangement has been agreed to by the Consultative Council, which is representative of approved societies, as being the best method of procedure and for the valuation of some 9,000 societies and branches. As regards the second part of the question, the work in connection with valuation and the preparation of schemes by approved societies necessitates an interval of 2i years elapsing between the date of valuation and the date on which members begin to enjoy the additional benefits provided as the result of the valuation, and I do not think it desirable that this interval should be prolonged by another year.