§ Mr. BENNETTasked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the fact that the next valuation of the approved societies would show an available surplus for distribution of benefits of between£15, 000, 000 and 1161W £20, 000, 000; and whether he will consider the existence of such a surplus from the point of view of whether the weekly contributions need be on the present large scale, and from that of the possibilities of pooling health insurance with the other social insurance schemes of the Government, respectively?
Mr. CHAMBERLAIN:I am aware that it has been estimated that the surpluses available for distribution as a result of the second valuation of approved societies and branches may amount in the aggregate to the figures stated. As regards the second part of the question, the Royal Commission on National Health Insurance have now under review the whole financial structure of the scheme, and I propose to await their findings.