§ Mr. HICKS BEACHasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether all approved societies under the National Insurance Act were promised for establishment charges 1s. per head for all members enrolled during the first quarter, and in addition a sum of about 11d. per member for management expenses; whether the only amount now allowed to the societies is the actual money spent in establishment expenses, less 10 per cent. reserved until after audit; whether this compels societies to borrow money to finance their necessary expenditure, while at the same time a considerable sum of money belonging to the societies is in the hands of the Treasury; and whether he will issue instructions to the National Insurance Commissioners to transmit to the societies in future the sums of money belonging to them for establishment and management expenses as soon as they become due?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe amounts referred to in the first part of the question are the maximum amounts which societies are permitted to carry to their administration expenses accounts under Section 35 of the Act. The arrangement referred to in the second part of the question applies to societies which elect to finance their own expenditure subject to reimbursement under the proviso to Section 26 (1), instead of giving security under that Section. Societies which elect to give security can under the existing arrangements obtain the advance necessary to meet current expenditure as it becomes duo for payment within the maximum which they have power to spend.