§ Mr. PERKINSasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the requisitions for the maternity benefit made to and paid by the Insurance Commissioners for the past three months have been in excess of the estimated amount anticipated by him for the United Kingdom; and, if so, to what amount?
§ Mr. MASTERMANMaternity benefit is being administered by over 23,500 societies and branches, and 233 Insurance Committees. The information asked for by the hon. Member could not be given without obtaining a return from all these societies and committees, and I think it would be premature to ask them to furnish such a return at present, as the benefit has only been in operation for about two months.