§ Mr. J. Griffithsasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many persons in receipt of benefits under the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Act had their benefits supplemented by allowances or grants from the National Assistance Board in the year 1963; and what was the average amount paid during that period to those in receipt of weekly allowances.
§ Mr. WoodIn December, 1963, 2,315 people whose sole or main benefit was paid under the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Acts were receiving supplementary grants from the National Assistance Board. I am afraid that the rest of the information asked for by the right hon. Gentleman is not available.
§ Mr. J. Griffithsasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what estimate he has made of the amounts by which the injury and disablement benefits under the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Acts could be increased if the £16 million added to the Industrial Injuries Fund in the year ended 31st March 1963 were used to finance the cost of increased benefits.
§ Mr. Wood£16 million would support in perpetuity about 8d. a week on the rate of injury benefit with proportionate increases in other industrial injuries benefits. But the use of current surpluses to finance benefit increases would be inconsistent with the actuarial basis of the scheme whereby the surpluses in early years are used to build up a fund, so that the interest can cover the expected excess of expenditure over income from contributions and the Exchequer when the scheme reaches maturity.