§ Mr. Rhys Daviesasked the Minister of Health whether there has been an increase in the amounts recently issued to approved societies to cover the cost of sickness and disablement benefit; if so, what is the estimated increase over and above any other similar period in any previous year; and whether he can state the reason for this?
§ Mr. ElliotYes, Sir. I am informed that an increase in the amounts issued to approved societies during the present year, as compared with last year, has been necessitated by increased claims for sickness benefit, on account of the higher incidence of influenza. The figures for this year are not abnormal in comparison with those for the epidemic years of1552W 1933 and 1937, as the hon. Member will see from the following statement of the issues for the early part of each of the past eight years.
The amounts issued to approved societies during the period 1st January to 20th February inclusive in each of the years 1933–40 are as follow:
£ 1933 3,565,000 1934 2,867,000 1935 2,720,000 1936 2,308,000 1937 3,463,000 1938 2,563,000 1939 3,111,000 1940 3,486,000
§ Dr. Littleasked the Minister of Health whether, until the time comes to amend the Health Insurance Act, he will consider, owing to the increased cost of living, the desirability of taking temporary steps to make an annual grant to approved societies with the object of increasing the small weekly sum at present paid to members suffering from chronic ill-health in order to provide them with the ordinary necessaries of life?
§ Mr. ElliotI am afraid I have no funds at my disposal out of which such a grant could be made.