§ 26. Mr. THORNEasked the Minister of Health, whether he can state the 1203 amount of the balance in the unclaimed stamp fund in connection with the National Health Insurance Act?
§ Sir K. WOODThe annual balance in the National Health Insurance Funds in respect of unclaimed stamps in recent years is estimated to be about £300,000, of which under the existing law nine-tenths is payable to the Central Fund and the remaining one-tenth is to be applied in such manner as may be prescribed. The final claims in respect of stamps are not received until long after the actual sales so the total balance at any date cannot be ascertained until some years have elapsed, but it is estimated that at the beginning of 1933 there was a balance of about £850,000 which has not yet been divided between the Central Fund and other purposes for which the money has been available; some part of this balance must be reserved to safeguard the cost of the new maternity benefits under the present Bill.
§ Mr. THORNEI am asking whether the right hon. Gentleman does not think these unclaimed balances ought to be divided among the societies?
§ Sir K. WOODNine-tenths of the amount goes to the Central Fund, which assists approved societies.