§ Sir R. GOWERasked the Minister of Health what were the total surplus funds standing to the credit of approved societies under the Health Insurance Acts at the latest available date; what was the total amount set aside by approved societies for the last insurance year for additional benefits; the nature of such additional benefits and the amounts respectively allocated; and what were the total reserved funds?
Sir H. YOUNGThe total surplus funds of all approved societies with head offices in England and Wales disclosed at the third valuation amounted to £32,479,359, of which £17,632,925 was set aside for additional benefits, and the balance was kept in reserve. The addi- 545W tional benefits took the form of increases in the normal rates of sickness, disablement and maternity benefits, and payments towards the cost of various benefits in the nature of treatment, such as dental, ophthalmic, hospital and convalescent home treatment and the provision of medical and surgical appliances. The total amounts allocated to such treatment benefits in the year 1933 were as follow:
£ Dental 2,201,893 Ophthalmic 469,594 Hospital treatment and convalescent home treatment 388,858 Medical and surgical appliances 183,169 Other treatment benefits 145,086 Total £3,388,600