§ Mr. HAYDAYasked the Minister of Health (1) the total surplus funds standing to the credit of all approved societies, under the Health Insurance Acts, at the nearest convenient date;
(2) the total amount set aside by approved societies for the last insurance year for additional benefits; and if he will state the nature of such additional benefits and the amounts, respectively, allocated?
§ Mr. GREENWOODThe total of the surplus funds of approved societies and branches under the Health Insurance Acts is ascertained by quinquennial valuations. The results of the last completed valuations are summarised in the Report of the Government Actuary dated 25th November, 1926 (Cmd. 2785). I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of that Report, from which he will see (paragraph 20) that the total surpluses amounted to £42,413,319, from which amounts totalling £26,619,161 (paragraph 36) were certified for distribution in addi-776W tional benefits in the ensuing quinquennium. Out of the above distributable surplus, £13,345,000 or about one-half was applied by the societies and branches concerned in providing increases of the statutory cash benefits, and the remainder was utilised for the provision of various treatment benefits. The most important of these benefits, and the annual sums made available for them during the period of the schemes (including State grant) were as follow:
£ Dental benefit 2,900,000 Ophthalmic benefit 470,000 Hospitals 324,000 Convalescent Home Treatment 233,000 Medical and Surgical Appliances 142,000 As regards the total reserve funds of approved societies, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply to a question by the hon. Member for Denbigh on the 6th March last.