32. Mr. ROBINSONasked the Minister of Health the amount of contributions to health insurance in the insurance year ended July, 1927, and the amount paid out in benefits during the same period?
§ The MINISTER of HEALTH (Mr. Chamberlain)The amount of health insurance contributions collected in the year ended 3rd July, 1927, was approximately £24,900,000. The total income of the national health insurance scheme in the year, including interest and State grant, amounted to approximately £37,100,000.
Returns of expenditure from approved societies and insurance committees are made only for complete calendar years, so that the amount paid out in benefits in the period specified in the question cannot be stated. It is, however, estimated on the basis of the amount of cash issued from the National Health Insurance Fund and other data, that in the period specified the expenditure on all health insurance benefits, together with expenses of administration, amounted to about £39,300,000. This figure is inclusive of expenditure on additional benefits.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSCan the right hon. Gentleman tell us approximately what the cost of administration was?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINI must have notice of that question.