HC Deb 24 June 1926 vol 197 cc565-7W
Sir N. GRATTAN DOYLE

asked the Minister of Health, with reference to National Health Insurance the total of the accumulated funds at 31st December, 1925 the total payments made during the year ended 31st December, 1925, by insured persons, employers, and the State, respectively; the number of insured persons, male and female separately; the total benefits paid during the year ended 31st. December, 1925, for sickness benefit, disablement benefit, maternity benefit, medical benefit, and additional benefits, respectively; the total amount allocated to approved societies for additional benefits; the total amount retained by the State which is regarded by the Act as surplus; the number of societies which have disposable surplus for additional benefits; and the number of societies in deficiency?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

The particulars asked for with reference to National Health Insurance, so far as available, are given for England and Wales in the following statement:

Total of the accumulated funds at 31st December, 1925 £113,000,000

Total payments made during the year ended 31st December, 1925:
By insured persons £11,970,000
By employers £12,800,000
By the State £7,220,000
Number of insured persons:
Male 9,395,000
Female 4,550,000
Total benefits paid during the year ended 31st December, 1925:
For sickness benefit £9,335,000
For disablement benefit £4,514,000
For maternity benefit £1,489,000
For medical benefit £8,449,000
For additional benefits not Included above (see note *) £761,000
*NOTE.—Additional benefit, which take the form of increases of ordinary cash benefits (sickness, disablement and maternity) are included in the figures for those benefits and cannot be separately stated. Payments in respect of additional benefits which do not take that form are separately shown.

The total amount allocated for distribution by approved societies by way of additional benefits of every description in the year 1925 may he estimated approximately at £2,500,000.

The inquiry as to the total amount retained by the State which is regarded by the Act as surplus is not understood. The whole of the assets of a society consisting of:

  1. (i) Reserve values credited under Sections 66 and 69 of the Act:
  2. (ii) Sums standing in the "Investment Account" under Section 70;
  3. (iii) Sums standing to the credit of the society in the National Health Insurance Fund other than in "Investment Account":
  4. (iv) Sums invested by the society under Section 71: and
  5. (v) Cash in hands of the society, are brought into its valuation balance sheet for the purpose of the periodical valuation under Section 74. by which alone the existence of, or the amount of, a surplus can be ascertained.

The number of units (i.e., centralised approved societies and branches of approved societies with branches) operating in England and Wales at the first valuation which had disposable surplus for additional benefits was 7,775.

The number of societies and branches in deficiency was 377.

The Government Actuary is preparing a report on the second valuation of the assets and liabilities of approved societies, and hopes to issue it in the autumn.