§ Sir KINGSLEY WOODasked the Secretary to the Local Government Board, as representing the National Health Insurance Commissioners, if he can state the amounts provided during the present financial year as extra remuneration in the nature of a war bonus or otherwise for medical practitioners on the panel, pharmacists on the panel, Civil servants and other officials in the employ of the Insurance Commission, and the agents and workers of the approved societies, respectively?
§ Major ASTORIn so far as the question is intended to refer to moneys provided from Exchequer funds, no comparison of amounts is possible, because the numbers of individuals involved in the four categories differ very widely; and, further, only those in one of the four categories receive their whole remuneration solely from Government funds. In the case of the first category, the amount to be provided from the Exchequer during the present financial year for extra remuneration in the nature of a war bonus is £300,000, and in the case of the third category it is about £138,000. The increase of remuneration in the case of the second category cannot easily be separated from the total Drug Fund, of which it forms a part. The remuneration of the individuals in the fourth category is not met from Exhequer funds, except as regards the two-ninths contribution to the administrative expenditure of the approved societies who employ them and are solely concerned in fixing their remuneration; and the Commissioners have no information as regards extra remuneration by way of war bonus which approved societies have accorded to their officials