§ 21. Major Sir ARCHIBALD SINCLAIRasked the Minister of Health what was the aggregate amount of sickness and disablement benefit paid to members of approved societies for the first nine months of this year; what was the corresponding amount paid during the first nine months of last year; what was the income from contributions during the same period this year and last year; and what was the amount of the State contribution during the same period this year and last year?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINAs the answer contains a number of figures, I will, with 522 permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the answer:
§ I regret that the information asked for by the hon. Member as to the amounts of Sickness and Disablement Benefit paid for the first nine months of 1925 and 1926 is not available, as returns showing the amounts paid by Approved Societies for each kind of benefit respectively are obtained and tabulated in respect only of complete calendar years.
§ The accounts of the Central Departments show that during the periods specified in the question the amount of cash issued out of the National Health Insurance Fund to Approved Societies in England and Wales to enable them to defray the cost of all benefits administered by Approved Societies and of the administration of those benefits was as follows:
§ Sum issued from National health Insurance Fund to Approved Societies to defray Cost of Benefits and Administration:
| — | Period from 1st January to 30th September. | |
| 1925. | 1926. | |
| £ | £ | |
| England | 12,093,000 | 14,56l,000 |
| Wales | 953,000 | 1,179,000 |
| 13,046,000 | 15,740,000 |
§ It should be mentioned that the expenditure of Approved Societies on benefits was increased on and from 4th July, 1926, by the coming into operation on that date of schemes for the distribution of additional benefits out of the surpluses made available on the results of the valuations of Approved Societies valued as at 31st December, 1923.
§ The income from contributions and the amount of the State contribution (representing the amount required for payment of the statutory proportion of the cost of all national health insurance benefits and administration, together with the cost of central administration) in the 523 respective periods were approximately as follows:
| — | Period from 1st January to 30th September. | |
| 1925. | 1926. | |
| Income from Contritions:* | £ | £ |
| England | 17,250,000 | 15,600,000 |
| Wales | 1,071,000 | 708,000 |
| 18,321,000 | 16,368,000 | |
| Amount of State Contribution:† | ||
| England | 5,100,000 | 4,400,000 |
| Wales | 389,000 | 325,000 |
| 5,489,000 | 4,725,000 | |
| * The ordinary rates of contribution were reduced at 4th January, 1926, from 10d. to 9d. a week for men, and from 9d. to 8½d. a week for women. | ||
| † The statutory proportion of the cost of benefits and administration, payable out of moneys provided by Parliament, was reduced from 1st January, 1926, from two-ninths to one-seventh in the case of men, and from two-ninths to one-fifth in the case of women. |