§ Sir WALTER ESSEXasked the Secretary to the Treasury how many persons have received benefits under Parts I. and II. respectively of the National Insurance Act up to the latest date for which figures are available who were not members of 559W any friendly or other sickness or unemployment benefit societies prior to the operation of the said Acts; and for what benefits sums were paid and the totals under the two classes?
Mr. BENNThe total membership of friendly societies, including duplicates, was in December, 1911, approximately 6¾ millions. The number of persons insured under Part I. of the National Insurance Act, 1911, without duplicates is nearly 14 millions.
The amounts issued to approved societies and insurance committees in the United Kingdom up to the 11th January, 1914, are as follows:—
£ Issues to Approved Societies for Benefits 7,605,000 Administration 3,675,000 Issues to Insurance Committees for Medical benefit 4,502,000 Sanatorium benefit 801,000 Administration … 252,000 Payments to Deposit Contributors in sickness and maternity benefit 18,100 The number of persons insured under Part II. of the National Insurance Act, 1911, is about 2¼ millions, and less than one-fifth of these were formerly insured through voluntary associations.
The total benefit paid under Part II. up to the 13th March, 1914, was about £622,000, and the number of claims on which benefit was paid was about 700,000.