§ 29. Mr. H. WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Health what percentage of the population of England and Wales 2248 was insured under the National Health Insurance Act in 1913 and in 1926 or, if the figures for 1926 are not yet available, in 1925; and to what cause he attributes the change, if any?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe percentage of the population of England and Wales insured under the National Health Insurance Act is estimated to have been approximately 32 per cent. in 1913 and 36 per cent. in 1925. The change in ratio is partly attributable to the change in the average age of the total population. In the latter year, also, the statistics of insured persons include disabled persons and persons over 70 years of age, while the 1913 statistics do not include such persons.