Mr. WORTHINGTON-EVANSasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state the estimated amount of money which will be expended upon insured persons for benefits and cost of administration of benefits under the National Insurance Act during the months of January, February, and March, 1913, treating one-fourth of the cost of medical benefit for the year 1913 as being expended in those months?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe expenditure on insured persons for benefits and the cost of administration during the months of January, February, and March, 1913, estimated as nearly as the circumstances of the case permit, is £3,970,000.
Mr. WORTHINGTON-EVANSasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether two-ninths and one-fourth of the cost of benefits obtained under the National Insurance Act by the expenditure of the £1,825,000 to be provided by the Supplementary Estimate will be payable out of moneys provided by Parliament; and, if so, when the Estimate for this additional charge will be presented?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe answer is in the negative. The proposed new Grants are outside the Act altogether. The obligation under the Act to pay two-ninths (or one-fourths) of the cost of benefits out of moneys provided by Parliament is combined with that of paying seven-ninths (or three-fourths) out of contributions. Where nothing is paid out of contributions, nothing is payable out of moneys provided by Parliament under Section 3 of the Act.
Mr. WORTHINGTON-EVANSasked how much of the Supplementary Estimates in Class II., No. 16, Friendly Societies Registry, and in Class II., No. 24, Stationery and Printing, and in Class II., No. 26, Office of Works, are due to the National Insurance Act?
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§ Mr. MASTERMANThe additional work undertaken by the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies in connection with the Insurance Act has been dealt with as a part of the general work of the office. No part of the Supplementary Estimate, which is required mainly for the payment of the increased staff, can, therefore, be allocated to the Insurance Act, and the whole of the increased staff will be required for the future work of the office after the extra work under the National Insurance Act has come to an end. Of the Supplementary Estimates for the Votes of the Stationery Office and the Office of Works, about £139,500 and £2,000, respectively, are due to work in connection with the Insurance Act.