§ 37. Mr. H. WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Health if he can furnish an estimate of the number of persons insured under the National Health Insurance Act in Great Britain on 31st March. 1926, and also estimates of the number of persons under 16 or over 70, respectively, who would be so insured but for their age?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINAs the answer is somewhat long, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ The following is the reply:
§ The number of persons insured under the National Health Insurance Act in Great Britain on 31st March, 1926, is estimated to be about 15¾ millions, inclusive of those persons who have ceased to be insurably employed but are still within the "free year" of insurance, or, in the case of women who have married, are still entitled to the special benefits provided for a limited period after employment has been relinquished. The number of persons over 70 who were employed contributors up to the attainment of this age is estimated to be 290,000. All of them are still insured so far as medical benefit is concerned, and but for their age would, no doubt, be still insured for all benefits.. The number of young persons between the ages of 14 and 16 who were described as occupied at the Census 1373 of 1921 was about 900,000. The great majority of those were no doubt in employment, and it is probable that the number has not changed materially since 1921. But in any estimate as to the number who would have been insured, but for their age, some allowance must be made for the uninsurable class of children working for parents and not in receipt of definite money wages.