§ Mr. DAYasked the Minister of Health whether he has any records and can state the number of insured persons entitled to ordinary medical benefit under any of the National Health Insurance Schemes at the last convenient date; the number of insured persons entitled to additional benefit, dental, optical, or convalescent at the same date; and the amount paid by Approved Societies for dental benefit and for optical benefit, respectively, for the 12 months ended on the last convenient date?
§ Sir K. WOODIt is estimated that at the end of 1936 there were in Great Britain 17,708,000 insured persons entitled to medical benefit. During 1935, the sum of £1,756,000 was expended in the provision of dental benefit by Approved Societies with a total membership of 11,112,000, £414,000 was expended on ophthalmic benefit by Approved Societies with a total membership of 10,646,000, and £110,000 was expended on convalescent home treatment benefit by Approved Societies with a total membership of 10,829,000.