Major HOPEasked the amount paid in Scotland up to date for the erection or maintenance of institutions for the treatment, under the National Insurance Act, of tuberculous patients out of the capital Grant of £1,500,000, out of funds available for sanatorium benefit under the National Insurance Act, and out of rates?
Mr. McKINNON WOODAs I explained in my reply to the hon. Member for Plymouth on the 19th instant, only a nominal amount has as yet been issued in Scotland out of the capital Grant of £1,500,000, but schemes for the erection of institutions by local authorities are approaching completion which will shortly involve the issue of large amounts from the Grant. With regard to the other portions of the question, the information is not available in a form which enables the expenditure for the particular purposes mentioned to be560W distinguished from expenditure on sanatorium benefit generally. I am informed, however, that the expenditure by Insurance Committees in Scotland under Section 16 (2) of the National Insurance Act, 1911, towards the sanatorium benefit amounted to £6,180 for the period from 16th July, 1912, to 11th January, 1913, and to approximately £57,000 for the period from 12th January, 1913, to 11th January, 1914; while the total expenditure by local authorities for the treatment of tuberculous cases in hospitals and sanatoria for the period from 15th July, 1912, to 31st March, 1913, was £32,488, and their estimated expenditure for the period from 1st, April, 1913, to 31st March, 1914, is approximately £80,000. One-half of the two last-mentioned sums is chargeable to the rates.